Protest

15
Oct 2024
11:55 UTC

Europe Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to Israel-Hamas conflict to be held in multiple cities regionwide on October 15-17; maintain heightened vigilance

Current Situation

  • Reports indicate that protests and events related to the Israel-Hamas conflict are scheduled in multiple cities in Europe on October 15-17.
  • In Vienna, Austria a pro-Palestinian protest will be held in front of the main university building of Universitat Wien from 18:00 (local time) on October 16.  
  • The protest is being held to denounce Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and the Austrian government’s stance on Israel.  

Source: Twitter 

  • In Paris, France a pro-Palestinian protest will be held at Place de la Republique from 18:30 on October 15. 
  • The protest is being held to denounce Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip and is supported by the left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI). 

Source: EuroPalestine 

  • In Berlin, Germany, an anti-Israel protest by multiple organizations will be held at Platz des 18. Marz, from 18:00 on October 17. 
  • The protest is being held to denounce German government support of Israel and other foreign policy issues, coinciding with a planned visit of USA President Joe Biden. 

Source: Twitter 

  • In Chania, Crete, Greece an anti-NATO and pro-Palestinian protest and march will begin at Agoras Square at 19:00 on October 15. The exact march route, including the end location, is not yet confirmed. 
  • The protest is being held to denounce a meeting related to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Chania and NATO’s perceived support of Israel.

Source: Haniotika 

  • In Dublin, Ireland an “emergency” pro-Palestinian protest will be held at the Dail from 17:30 on October 15.  
  • The protest is supported by multiple pro-Palestinian and anti-war organizations and is being held to denounce Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. 

Source: Twitter 

  • In Barcelona, Spain an “emergency” pro-Palestinian and pro-Lebanon rally will be held from the EU Representative Office at Passeig de Gracia street from 19:00 on October 15. 
  • The protest is being held to denounce Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. The protest is supported by multiple pro-Palestinian and pro-Lebanese groups. 

Source: Twitter 

  • In London, UK, a pro-Palestinian protest will be held outside the Chancery Division of High Court building on 7 Rolls Buildings Street from 10:00 on October 17. 
  • The protest is organized by Palestine Solidarity Campaign and supported by other pro-Palestinian and anti-war groups. 
  • The protest is being held to demand that the court reject permission for a prominent bank to purchase a different brand name, as activists perceive the purchase as attempting to hide support of Israel. 

Source: Twitter 

  • According to October 14 reports, a Jewish mosaic in a “Garden of Religions” in Karlsruhe, Germany was destroyed by an unknown individual. The police are investigating the incident as a politically motivated act. 

Source: Bild 

Assessments & Forecast

  1. Based on precedent, and given heightened sentiments related to reports of a fire at a hospital in Deir el-Balah in the Gaza Strip, the protests are likely to witness turnouts ranging from the low thousands to low tens of thousands. Protests supported by prominent pro-Palestinian organizations and other major organizations and parties are liable to attract increased turnout. As such, the protests in Barcelona, London, and Paris are expected to attract the largest turnouts.  
  2. In addition to the planned protests, spontaneous pro-Palestinian and Lebanon solidarity protests are liable to occur regionwide. Such protests are likely to occur near central government buildings, main squares, Israeli and US diplomatic missions, or Jewish community spaces. 
  3. Additionally, pro-Palestinian protests with high student involvement or participation of left-wing groups have an increased risk of unrest, as these entities are liable to clash with police or engage in disruptive tactics, such as blocking transportation or damaging property.  Previous campus protests, including those at Universitat Wien, have seen instances of blockades, encampments, and vandalism. As such, the protest at the Universitat Wien has a latent risk of unrest in the form of clashes between protesters and law enforcement. 
  4. Additionally, the risk of unrest is further heightened by the involvement of left-wing groups, as well as the potential presence of far-left extremists, who may engage in direct targeting of law enforcement. As such, the protest in Paris poses a higher risk of unrest in the form of clashes between protesters and law enforcement given the support of the LFI party and consequent risk of far-left actors present at the protest. 
  5. Amid high tensions and sentiments, any planned or spontaneous demonstrations carry a heightened potential for unrest in the form of clashes between opposing groups and with police. As such, a bolstered security presence is expected near protest locations to monitor proceedings. In the case of escalating unrest, police are liable to use forcible dispersal methods, including conducting mass arrests.  
  6. Significant disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular movement, including road closures, disruptions to public transportation, and traffic diversions, should be anticipated near the protest locations. 

Recommendations

  1. Those operating or residing in Europe on October 15-17 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance near protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict due to the elevated potential for unrest.   
  2. Allot for travel-related disruptions in the vicinity of the protest locations. 

 

COUNTRY RISK LEVEL Low
AFFECTED AREA Europe
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE Credible

Current Situation

  • Reports indicate that protests and events related to the Israel-Hamas conflict are scheduled in multiple cities in Europe on October 15-17.
  • In Vienna, Austria a pro-Palestinian protest will be held in front of the main university building of Universitat Wien from 18:00 (local time) on October 16.  
  • The protest is being held to denounce Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and the Austrian government’s stance on Israel.  

Source: Twitter 

  • In Paris, France a pro-Palestinian protest will be held at Place de la Republique from 18:30 on October 15. 
  • The protest is being held to denounce Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip and is supported by the left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI). 

Source: EuroPalestine 

  • In Berlin, Germany, an anti-Israel protest by multiple organizations will be held at Platz des 18. Marz, from 18:00 on October 17. 
  • The protest is being held to denounce German government support of Israel and other foreign policy issues, coinciding with a planned visit of USA President Joe Biden. 

Source: Twitter 

  • In Chania, Crete, Greece an anti-NATO and pro-Palestinian protest and march will begin at Agoras Square at 19:00 on October 15. The exact march route, including the end location, is not yet confirmed. 
  • The protest is being held to denounce a meeting related to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Chania and NATO’s perceived support of Israel.

Source: Haniotika 

  • In Dublin, Ireland an “emergency” pro-Palestinian protest will be held at the Dail from 17:30 on October 15.  
  • The protest is supported by multiple pro-Palestinian and anti-war organizations and is being held to denounce Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. 

Source: Twitter 

  • In Barcelona, Spain an “emergency” pro-Palestinian and pro-Lebanon rally will be held from the EU Representative Office at Passeig de Gracia street from 19:00 on October 15. 
  • The protest is being held to denounce Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. The protest is supported by multiple pro-Palestinian and pro-Lebanese groups. 

Source: Twitter 

  • In London, UK, a pro-Palestinian protest will be held outside the Chancery Division of High Court building on 7 Rolls Buildings Street from 10:00 on October 17. 
  • The protest is organized by Palestine Solidarity Campaign and supported by other pro-Palestinian and anti-war groups. 
  • The protest is being held to demand that the court reject permission for a prominent bank to purchase a different brand name, as activists perceive the purchase as attempting to hide support of Israel. 

Source: Twitter 

  • According to October 14 reports, a Jewish mosaic in a “Garden of Religions” in Karlsruhe, Germany was destroyed by an unknown individual. The police are investigating the incident as a politically motivated act. 

Source: Bild 

Assessments & Forecast

  1. Based on precedent, and given heightened sentiments related to reports of a fire at a hospital in Deir el-Balah in the Gaza Strip, the protests are likely to witness turnouts ranging from the low thousands to low tens of thousands. Protests supported by prominent pro-Palestinian organizations and other major organizations and parties are liable to attract increased turnout. As such, the protests in Barcelona, London, and Paris are expected to attract the largest turnouts.  
  2. In addition to the planned protests, spontaneous pro-Palestinian and Lebanon solidarity protests are liable to occur regionwide. Such protests are likely to occur near central government buildings, main squares, Israeli and US diplomatic missions, or Jewish community spaces. 
  3. Additionally, pro-Palestinian protests with high student involvement or participation of left-wing groups have an increased risk of unrest, as these entities are liable to clash with police or engage in disruptive tactics, such as blocking transportation or damaging property.  Previous campus protests, including those at Universitat Wien, have seen instances of blockades, encampments, and vandalism. As such, the protest at the Universitat Wien has a latent risk of unrest in the form of clashes between protesters and law enforcement. 
  4. Additionally, the risk of unrest is further heightened by the involvement of left-wing groups, as well as the potential presence of far-left extremists, who may engage in direct targeting of law enforcement. As such, the protest in Paris poses a higher risk of unrest in the form of clashes between protesters and law enforcement given the support of the LFI party and consequent risk of far-left actors present at the protest. 
  5. Amid high tensions and sentiments, any planned or spontaneous demonstrations carry a heightened potential for unrest in the form of clashes between opposing groups and with police. As such, a bolstered security presence is expected near protest locations to monitor proceedings. In the case of escalating unrest, police are liable to use forcible dispersal methods, including conducting mass arrests.  
  6. Significant disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular movement, including road closures, disruptions to public transportation, and traffic diversions, should be anticipated near the protest locations. 

Recommendations

  1. Those operating or residing in Europe on October 15-17 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance near protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict due to the elevated potential for unrest.   
  2. Allot for travel-related disruptions in the vicinity of the protest locations. 

 

COUNTRY RISK LEVEL Low
AFFECTED AREA Europe
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE Credible