Hundreds Rally in Solidarity with Israel in Munich
Description
Hundreds of demonstrators marched in Munich on Monday in a show of solidarity with the Jewish community following the deadly Hamas attack on Israel. Footage shows large crowds of protesters in the city’s Odeonsplatz square waving Israeli flags and holding placards with slogans such as: 'Free Palestine From Hamas' and 'Freedom Fighters Don't Commit War Crimes'. “Innocent men, women and children have been murdered on the streets of this city. We must nip this terror in the bud,” said CSU politician Ludwig Spaenle, who was one of many speakers at the event. The pro-Israel demonstration in Munich was organised by the 'Left Alliance Against Anti-Semitism' in collaboration with several local Jewish activist groups. A smaller counter-demonstration named 'Palestine Speaks' took place at Marienplatz, just 500 metres away from the rally on Odeonsplatz, prompting police to ramp up security measures in the city. The demonstration in Munich comes after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, October 7, firing thousands of rockets as militants broke through into Israeli territory as part of what the group described as 'Operation Al-Aqsa Flood'. Israel responded with airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and issued a formal declaration of war on Hamas, warning residents in Gaza to leave their homes. Hamas said the operation was due to the long-running Israeli blockade, raids on West Bank cities and other attacks, while Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed 'mighty vengeance' on the group. At the time of publication, over 1,100 have been reported dead across both sides in the most deadly escalation of the ongoing conflict in decades.