Europe: Rallies denouncing Gaza hospital strike, showing support for Palestinians, and security alerts likely regionwide through late October /update 4

Event

Further rallies denouncing the alleged Oct. 17 Israeli airstrike on the Al-Ahli al-Arabi Hospital in the Gaza Strip, expressing support for Palestinians and security threats, are likely across Europe through late October amid the Israel-Hamas war. On the night of Oct. 17-18, protestors in Istanbul stormed the Israeli consulate while demonstrators in Malatya attempted to enter Kurecik, an American military base. Additional attempts by protestors to forcefully enter Israeli diplomatic buildings cannot be ruled out across the region. Gaza-based health authorities claimed that the strike, which reportedly killed hundreds of people, was carried out by Israeli forces; for their part, Israeli officials claimed that the blast was the result of a misfired rocket launched by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) militant group.

Pro-Israel and pro-Palestine demonstrations have taken place in multiple European cities. Clashes have occurred at gatherings in cities across the region, including London, Madrid, Rome, and Stockholm. Authorities in France and Germany have banned pro-Palestinian rallies, stating that such gatherings were likely to disturb public order. Security forces have deployed enhanced measures to respond to protests. Further gatherings related to the Israel-Hamas conflict are likely in major cities throughout Europe. Demonstrations will likely take place at mosques, public squares, city centers, city halls, Palestinian diplomatic offices, and Israeli embassies or consulates.

Security levels will likely remain elevated across Europe in the coming days. Terrorist threat levels have been raised in France and Belgium following the killing of a teacher in France on Oct. 13 and the shooting of two Swedish citizens in Brussels on Oct. 16. In France, additional troops are deploying in support of civilian law enforcement. Authorities increased border security between Belgium and France on Oct. 16. Police in Turin, Italy, responded to a potential terrorist incident early Oct. 17.

Schools and transport hubs have received multiple bomb threat warnings in recent days in many countries, including Estonia, France, Latvia, Lithuania, and the Netherlands. No explosive device has yet been discovered in relation to the threats. Organized gatherings such as conferences, public commemorations, and sporting and other cultural events may be disrupted by additional security procedures.

Officials in impacted locations will likely deploy security personnel to monitor gatherings. Clashes between rival groups or demonstrators or between demonstrators and law enforcement officers are possible. Localized road travel delays are likely near any protest that materializes. Demonstrators could march along roadways. Security forces in Europe will likely have a heightened sensitivity to security scares, including bomb threats, over the coming days. Precautionary security force reactions, including evacuations and search operations, will likely prompt short notice and short-term business and public transport disruptions.

Context

Authorities in France have banned pro-Palestinian rallies, stating that such gatherings were likely to disturb public order. Following the ban, police used teargas and water cannons to disperse a pro-Palestinian rally in Paris on Oct. 12. Similarly, Germany announced on Oct. 12 its intention to ban all activities and organizations supporting Hamas or its agenda. Chancellor Olaf Scholz specifically called out the pro-Palestinian Samidoun organization during the announcement of the impending prohibition order. Samidoun had called for protests in support of "the resistance in Gaza." Authorities in Germany's capital, Berlin, banned two pro-Palestinian rallies on Oct. 11 over concerns anti-semitic language and symbols would be used along with a glorification of violence; many protesters who gathered in defiance of the ban were arrested. Further banning orders may be issued by other regional authorities in the coming days. As in France and Germany, activists may gather in defiance of the bans, raising the threat of violent confrontations.

Advice

Exercise caution near protests and protest sites. Heed instructions from authorities. Plan for localized road travel delays should protests occur. Immediately depart the area at the first sign that any security disruption may occur.