05
Mar 2025
14:05 UTC
Europe Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to Israel-Hamas conflict to take place regionwide on March 7-8; maintain heightened vigilance
Current Situation
- Protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict are slated to take place regionwide on March 7-8. Details are as follows:
- In Copenhagen, Denmark, a pro-Palestinian protest march will be held from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, located at 2 Asiatisk Plads, and will proceed to the headquarters of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation, located at 20 Emil Holms Kanal from 14:00 (local time) on March 8.
Source: Allepaagaden
- In Paris, France, a feminist pro-Palestinian protest march organized by Action Antifasciste Paris-Banlieue group will be held at Gare de l’Est at 18:30 (local time) on March 7. The exact route and end location of the protest is not available as of writing.
- However, the Paris police prefect Laurent Nunez has stated intentions to impose a ban on this protest, citing the participation of pro-Palestinian organizations.
Source: Facebook
- Also in Paris, a pro-Palestinian protest organized by the Urgence Palestine group will take place at Place de la Republique at 14:00 on March 8.
Source: Instagram
- In Berlin, Germany, a vigil will be held at Weinbergspark at 18:00 on March 7.
- It is organized to protest against anti-Semitism and demand the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
Source: X/Twitter
Assessments & Forecast
- Based on precedent and social media estimates, the protest in Paris on March 8 is likely to attract the highest turnout, ranging from the low-to-high-thousands. Based on the mobilizational capabilities of the organizers, the protest in Paris on March 7 and in Copenhagen are liable to attract turnouts in low to mid-hundreds. Meanwhile, the vigil in Berlin will likely see attendance ranging from high dozens to low hundreds.
- Given the heightened sentiments surrounding the protests issues, the demonstrations carry a heightened potential for unrest, particularly if protests attract counterprotests. The threat is especially elevated, given the increased risk of far-left and far-left feminist actors joining demonstrations, especially on March 8 celebrations of International Women’s Day in Europe, including in the associated feminist protests scheduled for that day. Incidents of unrest are likely to manifest in the form of clashes between protesters and the police, as well as with counter-protesters, should such demonstrations manifest.
- 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.
- 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
- Those operating or residing in Europe on March 7-8 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance near protests and vigils 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
- Protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict are slated to take place regionwide on March 7-8. Details are as follows:
- In Copenhagen, Denmark, a pro-Palestinian protest march will be held from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, located at 2 Asiatisk Plads, and will proceed to the headquarters of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation, located at 20 Emil Holms Kanal from 14:00 (local time) on March 8.
Source: Allepaagaden
- In Paris, France, a feminist pro-Palestinian protest march organized by Action Antifasciste Paris-Banlieue group will be held at Gare de l’Est at 18:30 (local time) on March 7. The exact route and end location of the protest is not available as of writing.
- However, the Paris police prefect Laurent Nunez has stated intentions to impose a ban on this protest, citing the participation of pro-Palestinian organizations.
Source: Facebook
- Also in Paris, a pro-Palestinian protest organized by the Urgence Palestine group will take place at Place de la Republique at 14:00 on March 8.
Source: Instagram
- In Berlin, Germany, a vigil will be held at Weinbergspark at 18:00 on March 7.
- It is organized to protest against anti-Semitism and demand the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
Source: X/Twitter
Assessments & Forecast
- Based on precedent and social media estimates, the protest in Paris on March 8 is likely to attract the highest turnout, ranging from the low-to-high-thousands. Based on the mobilizational capabilities of the organizers, the protest in Paris on March 7 and in Copenhagen are liable to attract turnouts in low to mid-hundreds. Meanwhile, the vigil in Berlin will likely see attendance ranging from high dozens to low hundreds.
- Given the heightened sentiments surrounding the protests issues, the demonstrations carry a heightened potential for unrest, particularly if protests attract counterprotests. The threat is especially elevated, given the increased risk of far-left and far-left feminist actors joining demonstrations, especially on March 8 celebrations of International Women’s Day in Europe, including in the associated feminist protests scheduled for that day. Incidents of unrest are likely to manifest in the form of clashes between protesters and the police, as well as with counter-protesters, should such demonstrations manifest.
- 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.
- 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
- Those operating or residing in Europe on March 7-8 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance near protests and vigils 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
France
-
ProtestEurope Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to Israel-Hamas conflict to take place in multiple cities on March 30 - April 1; maintain heightened vigilance -
ProtestEurope Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to Israel-Hamas conflict to take place in multiple cities on March 27-30; maintain heightened vigilance
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ProtestEurope Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to Israel-Hamas conflict to take place regionwide on March 19; maintain heightened vigilance
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ProtestEurope Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to Israel-Hamas conflict to take place regionwide on March 18; maintain heightened vigilance
Related Reports
France
-
ProtestEurope Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to Israel-Hamas conflict to take place in multiple cities on March 30 - April 1; maintain heightened vigilance
-
ProtestEurope Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to Israel-Hamas conflict to take place in multiple cities on March 27-30; maintain heightened vigilance
-
ProtestEurope Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to Israel-Hamas conflict to take place regionwide on March 19; maintain heightened vigilance
-
ProtestEurope Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to Israel-Hamas conflict to take place regionwide on March 18; maintain heightened vigilance