On Saturday, a large pro-Palestinian demonstration took place in Nørrebro, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, a boycott of Danish companies trading with Israel, and a free Palestine.
Thousands strong, the rally was one of the largest demonstrations in the Danish capital of late.
Attendees of all ages gathered at Den Røde Plads and marched towards Rådhuspladsen, accompanied by mobile stages, guest speakers in Danish, Arabic, Swedish and English, clothes stands, coffee stalls and flag vendors.
March 30 also marks Palestinians’ annual Land Day – or Yom al-Ard – which recalls the events of March 30, 1976, when six unarmed Palestinians were killed and more than 100 injured by Israeli forces during protests against Israel’s annexation of Palestinian land.
On the Facebook event for the demonstration, the organisers called for a day of “solidarity and support for the Palestinian people and their right to their land and homes”.
It emphasised that “the Danish government is accountable and should act immediately” and stated demands for the government to exert pressure to stop the genocide and seek “a lasting and immediate ceasefire, unrestricted access to emergency aid, an end to the illegal siege of Gaza, and the release of the over 7000 Palestinian hostages in Israel in exchange for the release of the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza.”
Anti-Netanyahu protests in Israel
Demonstrations also erupted in Jerusalem and in other cities across Israel on Saturday.
Thousands took to the street to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Natanyahu ahead of new ceasefire negotiations, scheduled to take place in Cairo this weekend.
The resumption of indirect negotiations, reported by Egypt’s Al Qahera News TV, comes as the UN Security Council demanded a ceasefire this week – nearly six months into the war.
Many Israelis feel that Netanyahu is the main obstacle to signing a deal with Hamas and bringing the captives held in Gaza back home, writes Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut.
“These people have been calling for a deal to bring back the captives for more than 175 days. They say that the policies of Israel’s government have simply failed,” Salhut said, reporting from a protest in Tel Aviv where thousands, including families of the captives, had gathered.
Demonstrations also took place near Netanyahu’s residence.
“Watching a genocide”
One of those attending Copenhagen’s street action was Amalie Lange, who is frustrated by the lack of political action from Denmark.
“Almost six months have passed in which we are watching a genocide being committed against the Palestinians. I simply cannot understand that more is not being done, and that our Prime Minister will not take responsibility and speak out against it,” she said.
Another, Annabeth Christensen, as she walked with other demonstrators past the yellow painted wall of Assistens Kirkegården’s on Nørrebrogade, said: “The mass murder that is taking place in Gaza must be stopped. And I am very sorry that our government trades arms with Israel.”
Villy Karlslund was also part of the day’s action. He wants an end to the hostilities and a peaceful solution to the conflict: “A just state must be established in old Palestine. A state where Jews and Palestinians and everyone else can live in peace with each other,” he said.
