11
May 2025
9:26 UTC
Europe Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to Israel-Hamas conflict to take place regionwide on May 11-17; maintain heightened vigilance
Current Situation
- Reports indicate that protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict will take place in several cities on May 11-17.
- These protests are related to the upcoming “Nakba week.” Nakba is a Palestinian term for events in 1948, with the 77th annual “Nakba Day” scheduled on May 15.
- In Vienna, Austria, a pro-Palestinian protest organized by the Palestine Solidarity Austria group will be held at Stephans Platz at 17:00 (local time) on May 15.
Source: X/Twitter
- In Brussels, Belgium, a pro-Palestinian protest will take place at Place de la Bourse at 19:00 on May 15.
Source: Instagram
- In Paris, France, a pro-Palestinian protest is slated to take place at Place de la Bataille-de-Stalingrad at 14:00 on May 17.
Source: Facebook
- In Munich, Germany, a pro-Palestinian protest will be held at Konigsplatz at 16:30 on May 17.
Source: Instagram
- In Amsterdam, Netherlands, a pro-Palestinian protest will take place at Dam Square at 19:30 on May 15.
Source: Facebook
- In Malmo, Sweden, a pro-Palestinian protest will take place at Stortorget at 13:00 on May 11. Organizers are calling on activists from across southern Sweden and Denmark to join, with Danish pro-Palestinian groups also voicing support for the protest.
Source: Facebook
- In Stockholm, protests commemorating the Nakba will be held on May 12-17.
- On May 12, a protest will be held at Mynttorget at 12:00.
- On May 14, a protest will take place at Sergels Torg at 18:00.
- On May 15, a protest is slated at Sergels Torg at 18:00.
- On May 16, a protest will be held at Soltorg at 17:00.
- On May 17, a protest will take place at Odenplan at 14:00.
Source: Facebook
- In London, UK, activists associated with “Energy Embargo for Palestine,” are slated to hold a protest outside the British Museum, located at Great Russell Street in London at 18:00 on May 13. The protest is being held to denounce an alleged “secret Israeli event” held at the museum.
Source: Instagram
- Also in London, a pro-Palestinian protest will take place at Royal Courts of Justice at 08:30 on May 13.
Source: Instagram
- Additionally, on May 15, the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) group calls for global action and protests commemorating the Nakba.
Source: X/Twitter
Assessments & Forecast
- Based on precedent and the mobilizational capabilities of the organizers, protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict are likely to attract turnouts ranging from the mid-hundreds to high thousands each, with the protests on May 15-17 likely attracting the highest turnouts.
- In addition to the planned protests, spontaneous pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrations are likely to occur regionwide in the near-to-medium term. The risk of such protests is particularly high on May 15, given the BDS calls for global action. Protests are likely to take place near central government buildings, main squares, and Israeli and US diplomatic missions.
- Based on precedent, any planned or spontaneous demonstrations related to the Israel-Hamas conflict carry a heightened potential for unrest in the form of clashes between protesters and police. Further, the potential for counter-protests by both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups also remains, increasing the risk of clashes between opposing groups.
- Given this, a reinforced 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 using tear gas or conducting 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 May 11-17 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 related to the Israel-Hamas conflict will take place in several cities on May 11-17.
- These protests are related to the upcoming “Nakba week.” Nakba is a Palestinian term for events in 1948, with the 77th annual “Nakba Day” scheduled on May 15.
- In Vienna, Austria, a pro-Palestinian protest organized by the Palestine Solidarity Austria group will be held at Stephans Platz at 17:00 (local time) on May 15.
Source: X/Twitter
- In Brussels, Belgium, a pro-Palestinian protest will take place at Place de la Bourse at 19:00 on May 15.
Source: Instagram
- In Paris, France, a pro-Palestinian protest is slated to take place at Place de la Bataille-de-Stalingrad at 14:00 on May 17.
Source: Facebook
- In Munich, Germany, a pro-Palestinian protest will be held at Konigsplatz at 16:30 on May 17.
Source: Instagram
- In Amsterdam, Netherlands, a pro-Palestinian protest will take place at Dam Square at 19:30 on May 15.
Source: Facebook
- In Malmo, Sweden, a pro-Palestinian protest will take place at Stortorget at 13:00 on May 11. Organizers are calling on activists from across southern Sweden and Denmark to join, with Danish pro-Palestinian groups also voicing support for the protest.
Source: Facebook
- In Stockholm, protests commemorating the Nakba will be held on May 12-17.
- On May 12, a protest will be held at Mynttorget at 12:00.
- On May 14, a protest will take place at Sergels Torg at 18:00.
- On May 15, a protest is slated at Sergels Torg at 18:00.
- On May 16, a protest will be held at Soltorg at 17:00.
- On May 17, a protest will take place at Odenplan at 14:00.
Source: Facebook
- In London, UK, activists associated with “Energy Embargo for Palestine,” are slated to hold a protest outside the British Museum, located at Great Russell Street in London at 18:00 on May 13. The protest is being held to denounce an alleged “secret Israeli event” held at the museum.
Source: Instagram
- Also in London, a pro-Palestinian protest will take place at Royal Courts of Justice at 08:30 on May 13.
Source: Instagram
- Additionally, on May 15, the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) group calls for global action and protests commemorating the Nakba.
Source: X/Twitter
Assessments & Forecast
- Based on precedent and the mobilizational capabilities of the organizers, protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict are likely to attract turnouts ranging from the mid-hundreds to high thousands each, with the protests on May 15-17 likely attracting the highest turnouts.
- In addition to the planned protests, spontaneous pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrations are likely to occur regionwide in the near-to-medium term. The risk of such protests is particularly high on May 15, given the BDS calls for global action. Protests are likely to take place near central government buildings, main squares, and Israeli and US diplomatic missions.
- Based on precedent, any planned or spontaneous demonstrations related to the Israel-Hamas conflict carry a heightened potential for unrest in the form of clashes between protesters and police. Further, the potential for counter-protests by both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups also remains, increasing the risk of clashes between opposing groups.
- Given this, a reinforced 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 using tear gas or conducting 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 May 11-17 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
Sweden
-
ProtestEurope Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to Israel-Hamas conflict to take place regionwide on May 30-June 7; maintain heightened vigilance -
ProtestEurope Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to Israel-Hamas conflict to take place regionwide on May 15-18; maintain heightened vigilance
-
ProtestSweden Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to Israel-Hamas conflict to take place in Malmo, Stockholm on May 1-3; maintain heightened vigilance
-
ProtestEurope Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to Israel-Hamas conflict to take place regionwide on April 26-27; maintain heightened vigilance
Related Reports
Sweden
-
ProtestEurope Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to Israel-Hamas conflict to take place regionwide on May 30-June 7; maintain heightened vigilance
-
ProtestEurope Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to Israel-Hamas conflict to take place regionwide on May 15-18; maintain heightened vigilance
-
ProtestSweden Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to Israel-Hamas conflict to take place in Malmo, Stockholm on May 1-3; maintain heightened vigilance
-
ProtestEurope Tactical (UPDATE): Protests related to Israel-Hamas conflict to take place regionwide on April 26-27; maintain heightened vigilance