Mass rallies in support of the Palestinians and against Israel's policy in the Gaza Strip are taking place these days in Europe.
In Italy, strikes called by the CGIL union in protest against the detention of the flotilla by Israel and its Italian members have almost seamlessly transitioned into pro-Palestinian rallies. In Rome, according to our correspondent, about a million people took to the streets on Saturday. Among them were four Italian parliamentarians who participated in the flotilla project and returned home after the convoy was detained by the Israeli army. The demonstrators demanded that the Italian authorities take a tougher stance on the situation in Gaza.
Similar demands, along with words of solidarity towards the Palestinians, were also heard in Portugal, which recently joined the list of countries recognizing the state of Palestine.
Mass rallies in support of the Palestinians also took place on Saturday in Barcelona, Lisbon, and other cities. A similar event is scheduled for Sunday in Athens.
The wave of outrage has swept across not only Europe. Earlier, the President of Mexico demanded the immediate release of the flotilla activists and the opening of borders for aid to Gaza.
Israel intercepted the humanitarian "Freedom Flotilla" ships on October 2. The convoy was warned in advance that it would not be able to approach the shores of the Gaza Strip. The crew received offers to leave the humanitarian cargo, which they wanted to deliver to the Palestinian enclave, in Italy or at the Israeli port of Ashkelon with a guarantee of its transfer to those in need.
Israel viewed the activists' refusal as a provocation. The country's Foreign Ministry stated that it has documents confirming ties between the flotilla organizers and the Hamas group.
