Thousands Rally İn Tel Aviv Against Gaza War

Thousands of people gathered in Israeli city of Tel Aviv on Saturday to protest Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, which have killed over 1,000 Palestinians.



As many as 5,000 people, mostly leftist Jews, participated in the protest at the Rabin Square, chanting anti-war slogans such as "Bury the rifles, not the children," and "Enough killing."



Israeli police initially sought to prevent the protest, telling organizers that ongoing rocket fire makes large public gathering dangerous. However, the police reversed their decision and permitted the protest



Rightwing protesters held a rival protest nearby, attempting to confront the anti-Gaza war protesters. Police, however, managed to keep the groups separated by shutting down the streets.



"The war is taking a heavy toll in lives and injuries on both sides, in destruction and horror, in bombings and rockets. We answer this by taking a stand and making a demand: end the war now!" a Facebook event for the rally said.



"Instead being drawn, again and again, into more wars and more military actions, it is now time to lead the way to dialogue and political settlement," the Facebook page read. "Together, Jews and Arabs, we will overcome occupation and war, hatred, incitement and racism – and offer a path to life and hope.



"There is a political solution. What price must we pay – the people of the South and the other residents of Israel, and the people of Gaza and the West Bank – until we reach that solution?"



At least 1047 Palestinians have been killed and more than 6000 injured in relentless Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since July 7.



Israel claims that the military offensive aims at halting rocket fire from the Palestinian territory, which has been reeling under a crippling Israeli blockade since 2006.



According to official Israeli figures, 45 Israelis – 42 soldiers and three civilians – have been killed since hostilities began.



Israel's operation "Protective Edge" is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major offensive against the densely populated Gaza Strip - home to 1.8 million Palestinians - within the last six years.



By Turgut Alp Boyraz



englishnews@aa.com.tr



www.aa.com.tr/en - Kudüs