16
Dec 2024
9:46 UTC
Europe Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to Israel-Hamas conflict to be held in several cities regionwide on December 17-18; maintain heightened vigilance
Current Situation
- Reports indicate that protests relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict are scheduled in several cities in Europe on December 17-18.
- In Vienna, Austria, the pro-Palestine organization Das Palastinakomitee Wien is calling for a protest at 18:30 (local time) in front of the French embassy on December 17.
- The protest is being called to demand the release of the Lebanese activist Georges Ibrahim Abdallah detained in France.
Source: Dem Volke Dienen
- In Vienna, Austria, the pro-Palestine organization Das Palastinakomitee Wien is calling for a protest at 18:30 (local time) in front of the French embassy on December 17.
- The protest is being called to demand the release of the Lebanese activist Georges Ibrahim Abdallah detained in France.
Source: Dem Volke Dienen
- In Nanterre, France, the Europalestine organization is calling for a protest at 19:00 in front of Palais des Sports Maurice Thorez on December 18.
- The demonstration has been called to protest a basketball match between the Nanterre 92 and Hapoel Tel Aviv teams.
Source: Europalestine
- In Nanterre, France, the Europalestine organization is calling for a protest at 19:00 in front of Palais des Sports Maurice Thorez on December 18.
- The demonstration has been called to protest a basketball match between the Nanterre 92 and Hapoel Tel Aviv teams.
Source: Europalestine
- In Malmo, Sweden, a torchlit pro-Palestinian vigil will take place at the Malmo Opera at 18:00 on December 18.
Source: Facebook
- In Malmo, Sweden, a torchlit pro-Palestinian vigil will take place at the Malmo Opera at 18:00 on December 18.
Source: Facebook
- Separately, in Berlin, Germany, 50 pro-Palestinian activists forcibly entered the Polizei Landeskriminalamt, the state criminal police station in Berlin-Tempelhof, and chanted banned slogans on December 14. While no injuries were reported, activists spray-painted the entrance to the building with red triangles – a symbol used by the Hamas terrorist organization to mark potential targets.
- The incident was carried out to demand the release of a woman in police custody for chanting the same banned slogans.
Source: Bild
- Separately, in Berlin, Germany, 50 pro-Palestinian activists forcibly entered the Polizei Landeskriminalamt, the state criminal police station in Berlin-Tempelhof, and chanted banned slogans on December 14. While no injuries were reported, activists spray-painted the entrance to the building with red triangles – a symbol used by the Hamas terrorist organization to mark potential targets.
- The incident was carried out to demand the release of a woman in police custody for chanting the same banned slogans.
Source: Bild
Assessments & Forecast
- Based on precedent and the mobilizational capabilities of the organizers, the protests in Vienna and Nanterre are likely to attract turnouts in the mid to high hundreds. The protest in Malmo will likely attract a turnout in the high dozens to low hundreds.
- In addition to the planned protests, spontaneous pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrations are likely to occur regionwide. Such protests are likely to occur near central government buildings, main squares, Israeli and US diplomatic missions, or Jewish community spaces.
- Based on precedent, any planned or spontaneous demonstrations carry an elevated potential for unrest, particularly if protests attract counterprotests by pro-Israel, pro-Palestinian, and/or far-right groups. Additionally, protests related to sporting events have a heightened risk of unrest, given the continued opposition to Israeli delegations. Such unrest could manifest as verbal and/or physical assaults on members of the Israeli delegation and Israeli fans.
- Given this, 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.
- Significant disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular movement, including road closures, disruptions to public transportation, and traffic diversions, should be anticipated near the protest locations.
- Separately, the December 14 incident at the state police station in Berlin reiterates the risk for sudden escalation in protest actions denouncing the arrests of activists associated with pro-Palestinian protests.
Recommendations
- Those operating or residing in Europe on December 17-18 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance near protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict due to the elevated potential for unrest.
- 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 relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict are scheduled in several cities in Europe on December 17-18.
- In Vienna, Austria, the pro-Palestine organization Das Palastinakomitee Wien is calling for a protest at 18:30 (local time) in front of the French embassy on December 17.
- The protest is being called to demand the release of the Lebanese activist Georges Ibrahim Abdallah detained in France.
Source: Dem Volke Dienen
- In Vienna, Austria, the pro-Palestine organization Das Palastinakomitee Wien is calling for a protest at 18:30 (local time) in front of the French embassy on December 17.
- The protest is being called to demand the release of the Lebanese activist Georges Ibrahim Abdallah detained in France.
Source: Dem Volke Dienen
- In Nanterre, France, the Europalestine organization is calling for a protest at 19:00 in front of Palais des Sports Maurice Thorez on December 18.
- The demonstration has been called to protest a basketball match between the Nanterre 92 and Hapoel Tel Aviv teams.
Source: Europalestine
- In Nanterre, France, the Europalestine organization is calling for a protest at 19:00 in front of Palais des Sports Maurice Thorez on December 18.
- The demonstration has been called to protest a basketball match between the Nanterre 92 and Hapoel Tel Aviv teams.
Source: Europalestine
- In Malmo, Sweden, a torchlit pro-Palestinian vigil will take place at the Malmo Opera at 18:00 on December 18.
Source: Facebook
- In Malmo, Sweden, a torchlit pro-Palestinian vigil will take place at the Malmo Opera at 18:00 on December 18.
Source: Facebook
- Separately, in Berlin, Germany, 50 pro-Palestinian activists forcibly entered the Polizei Landeskriminalamt, the state criminal police station in Berlin-Tempelhof, and chanted banned slogans on December 14. While no injuries were reported, activists spray-painted the entrance to the building with red triangles – a symbol used by the Hamas terrorist organization to mark potential targets.
- The incident was carried out to demand the release of a woman in police custody for chanting the same banned slogans.
Source: Bild
- Separately, in Berlin, Germany, 50 pro-Palestinian activists forcibly entered the Polizei Landeskriminalamt, the state criminal police station in Berlin-Tempelhof, and chanted banned slogans on December 14. While no injuries were reported, activists spray-painted the entrance to the building with red triangles – a symbol used by the Hamas terrorist organization to mark potential targets.
- The incident was carried out to demand the release of a woman in police custody for chanting the same banned slogans.
Source: Bild
Assessments & Forecast
- Based on precedent and the mobilizational capabilities of the organizers, the protests in Vienna and Nanterre are likely to attract turnouts in the mid to high hundreds. The protest in Malmo will likely attract a turnout in the high dozens to low hundreds.
- In addition to the planned protests, spontaneous pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrations are likely to occur regionwide. Such protests are likely to occur near central government buildings, main squares, Israeli and US diplomatic missions, or Jewish community spaces.
- Based on precedent, any planned or spontaneous demonstrations carry an elevated potential for unrest, particularly if protests attract counterprotests by pro-Israel, pro-Palestinian, and/or far-right groups. Additionally, protests related to sporting events have a heightened risk of unrest, given the continued opposition to Israeli delegations. Such unrest could manifest as verbal and/or physical assaults on members of the Israeli delegation and Israeli fans.
- Given this, 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.
- Significant disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular movement, including road closures, disruptions to public transportation, and traffic diversions, should be anticipated near the protest locations.
- Separately, the December 14 incident at the state police station in Berlin reiterates the risk for sudden escalation in protest actions denouncing the arrests of activists associated with pro-Palestinian protests.
Recommendations
- Those operating or residing in Europe on December 17-18 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance near protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict due to the elevated potential for unrest.
- 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
Related Reports
Austria
-
ProtestEurope Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to ongoing conflicts in Middle East to take place in multiple countries regionwide on December 19-21; maintain heightened vigilance -
ProtestEurope Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to ongoing conflicts in Middle East to take place in multiple countries on December 5-7; maintain heightened vigilance
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ProtestAustria Tactical (UPDATE): Anti-fascist counterprotest slated to be held from Schwarzenbergplatz, Vienna at 12:00 (local time) on November 30; maintain heightened vigilance
-
ProtestEurope Tactical (UPDATE): Protests denouncing gender-based violence slated in several cities regionwide on November 25; maintain heightened vigilance
Related Reports
Austria
-
ProtestEurope Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to ongoing conflicts in Middle East to take place in multiple countries regionwide on December 19-21; maintain heightened vigilance
-
ProtestEurope Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to ongoing conflicts in Middle East to take place in multiple countries on December 5-7; maintain heightened vigilance
-
ProtestAustria Tactical (UPDATE): Anti-fascist counterprotest slated to be held from Schwarzenbergplatz, Vienna at 12:00 (local time) on November 30; maintain heightened vigilance
-
ProtestEurope Tactical (UPDATE): Protests denouncing gender-based violence slated in several cities regionwide on November 25; maintain heightened vigilance