Asia-Pacific: Additional pro-Palestinian demonstrations certain in several countries and territories as of May 4 /update 10

Additional pro-Palestinian demonstrations are likely to continue in parts of the Asia-Pacific region through at least late May. In recent months, several groups have organized various types of rallies in response to the developments in the Middle East. Larger gatherings have previously involved thousands of participants in several urban centers, predominantly in Muslim-majority countries, such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan, especially after congregational prayers on Friday afternoons. However, most demonstrations are small in scale and peaceful. Counterdemonstrations by pro-Israeli groups and isolated clashes between security forces, protesters, and counterprotesters have also sporadically occurred; further acts of violence cannot be ruled out. Heightened security measures will almost certainly continue near popular gathering sites, including US and Israeli diplomatic missions, Israeli businesses, Muslim worship sites, government buildings, train stations, and public squares.

Additional rallies are planned in various parts of the region, notably in capital cities such as Canberra, Seoul, and Tokyo. Well-attended demonstrations are likely to prompt localized traffic disruptions and local business operations. As of May 4, upcoming gatherings that are likely to attract significant attendance include the following:

• Australia: Various pro-Palestinian organizations continue to hold regular weekly demonstrations in parks and outside government buildings of several cities, including Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney; previous gatherings have attracted tens of thousands of attendees. Weekly gatherings typically occur at Canberra's Garema Place and Sydney's Hyde Park on Saturdays, and Adelaide's Parliament House Steps, Melbourne's State Library Victoria, and Brisbane's King George Square on Sundays.

• Malaysia: Demonstrators will gather outside the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur at 14:00 May 4; organizers claim 100,000 people will participate. Similar rallies and marches involving a few thousand people have occurred periodically in the same area.

• New Zealand: Activists regularly gather at several locations on weekend afternoons, including the Bridge of Remembrance in Christchurch and Te Komititanga Square in Auckland.

Some foreign governments, including US diplomatic missions, have previously issued advisories for citizens to avoid demonstrations in certain countries, such as Pakistan, due to the potential for violence. Authorities in some regions like Singapore and several states in India and Australia have also barred protests related to developments in the Middle East as a security precaution. In some affected locations, violent altercations between activists and law enforcement are possible if police attempt to forcibly disperse gatherings or carry out mass arrests.

Militant attacks by Islamist groups remain improbable outside of Afghanistan and Pakistan, but minor-scale actions cannot be discounted, particularly in countries with known militant activity, such as India and Indonesia, as well as southern Thailand and the Philippines. Heightened security measures, including pedestrian and vehicular checks, patrols, and traffic restrictions, are likely to continue near Jewish places of worship, educational institutions, and other sensitive sites. Enhanced responses to potential security incidents, including suspicious packages, armed attacks, and bomb threats, are likely throughout the region in the coming months.