Asia-Pacific: Activists plan additional pro-Palestinian demonstrations in several countries and territories through October /update 19

Additional pro-Palestinian demonstrations will likely occur in parts of the Asia-Pacific Region through October, with large events planned around the Oct. 7 anniversary of the start of the current conflict between Israel and Hamas. Well-attended rallies are also likely during significant developments, prompting localized transport and business disruptions.

Most demonstrations are small in scale and peaceful. However, larger gatherings involving thousands of participants have occurred, predominantly after congregational prayers on Friday afternoons in urban centers of Muslim-majority countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan. Counterdemonstrations by pro-Israeli groups and isolated clashes between security forces, protesters, and counterprotesters have also sporadically occurred; further acts of violence are possible.

Heightened security measures will almost certainly continue near popular gathering sites, including US and Israeli diplomatic missions, Israeli businesses, Muslim and Jewish worship sites, government buildings, transport hubs, university campuses, and public squares.

Upcoming events include:

• Australia: Weekly gatherings occur at Canberra's Garema Place, Sydney's Hyde Park, and Wollongong's Crown Street Mall on Saturdays; high attendance is likely on Oct. 6 during Sunday gatherings at Adelaide's Parliament House Steps, Melbourne's State Library Victoria and Parliament House, as well as Brisbane's Queens Garden and King George Square. On Oct. 7, a pro-Palestine rally will also occur near Victoria Barracks from 18:00, while pro-Israel groups will hold nationwide vigils.

• India: Left-wing parties have called for nationwide gatherings Oct. 7 to advocate for a ceasefire; significant attendance and/or disruptions are unlikely. Police have detained protesters during similar events.

• Indonesia: Activists will gather outside the US embassy in Jakarta, 05:30-09:00; a few hundred people may gather, likely prompting tight security and road closures.

• Japan: Rallies will occur in cities, Oct. 5; gathering sites include Kobe's Marui shopping center from 19:30, Nagoya's Sakae Mitsukoshi Lion Statue from 19:00, Sapporo station's south exit from 13:00, and Shibuya's City Residential Castle from 14:00. Regular rallies that occur from Friday to Sunday near Kyoto City Hall and multiple urban train stations, such as the Nagoya, Sendai, and Shinjuku stations, will continue. On Oct. 7, a protest march will occur towards the Israeli embassy in Tokyo from Kojimachi station at 15:00, in addition to a gathering near the east exit of the Shinjuku station from 18:00.

• Malaysia: The weekly march in downtown Bukit Bintang will occur 20:30-21:30 on Oct. 5. Up to a few hundred protesters are likely to attend a protest march from the Tabung Haji mosque to the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur, the afternoon of Oct. 11.

• New Zealand: Planned protests in Wellington will occur on Hill Street Bridge 07:15 Oct. 4, outside Wellington Regional Hospital 18:00 Oct. 4, and Waitangi Park 13:00 Oct. 5. A march will also happen from the Pukeahu National War Memorial to Odlins Plaza in Wellington, 12:00 Oct. 6. Activists regularly gather at several locations on weekend afternoons, including the Bridge of Remembrance in Christchurch, Te Komititanga Square in Auckland, and Te Papa in Wellington.

• Pakistan: The Jamaat-e-Islami party has called for solidarity gatherings through Oct. 7. Up to a few thousand people may participate in main events including a march along Karachi's Shahrah-e-Faisal road on Oct. 6, and a march from the National Press Club to Gaza Chowk intersection from 16:00 Oct. 7. A few hundred people may gather in cities during nationwide rallies at 12:00 Oct. 7 that are likely to happen at or near press clubs, major intersections, and prominent mosques. Disruptive actions near US diplomatic buildings in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar cannot be ruled out.

• Philippines: Protest will occur at Rizal Park, Manila, from 15:00 Oct. 5.

• South Korea: Activists in Seoul will gather near the Bosingak Bell Pavilion at 14:00 Oct. 5 and at Exit 5 of the Jonggak station near the Israeli embassy at 14:00 Oct. 6. Weekly rallies also occur on Saturday afternoons in Seoul; events happen outside the Kyobo Bookstore near Gwanghwamun at 14:00, as well as near the SK Seorin building at 13:00.

• Thailand: Marches will happen Oct. 5 near Bangkok's BTS Chidlom station at 11:00, and Chiangmai's Angkaew Bridge at 17:00; small gatherings are likely in other cities.

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 precaution. In some affected locations, violent altercations between activists and law enforcement officials are possible if the latter attempt to forcibly disperse gatherings or carry out mass arrests.

Militant attacks by Islamist groups remain improbable outside of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Still, 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, will likely continue near Jewish places of worship, embassies, 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.