Since October 7, European cities have witnessed ongoing demonstrations in support of the Palestinian cause and Gaza. Thousands of events and demonstrations have taken place, some of them violent and inciting against Jews and Israel, others directed against the police and host countries. The majority of these demonstrations and protests have been in solidarity and identification with Palestinians and against Israel and the war in Gaza. In this article, we will present numbers and data on the demonstrations and highlight the danger Europe faces from these protests. We will also examine how Palestinians manage to organize so many demonstrations, who funds them, and how this ultimately harms Europe and contributes to anarchy on European streets.
According to the European Palestinian Media Center (EPAL), a Palestinian center that documents Palestinian activities worldwide but focuses on the European arena, the center managed to document 26,000 events and demonstrations in 619 cities across 20 European countries within a year. Undoubtedly, this is an astronomical number. All these activities are funded – ironically – by European sources donated to Palestinians. These funds return to Europe in one way or another to sow anarchy and disrupt public order.
The center also reveals that by January 18, 2025 – a day before the ceasefire in Gaza – it had documented 30,000 demonstrations and events in Europe. An analysis of Palestinian activities demonstrates their enormous strength and ability to organize demonstrations and, at times, violent events across Europe, particularly in Germany, Spain, and Italy. The report also notes that Palestinians succeed in mobilizing Arabs and Muslims living in Europe who identify with the cause. For example, according to the report, in Germany alone, over 4,665 demonstrations and events were held in 122 cities – and that was only up to January 18, 2025.
Data on Palestinian demonstrations in some European countries:
- Germany: 4,665 demonstrations and events in 122 cities over 471 days – nearly 10 per day.
- Switzerland: 1,217 demonstrations and events in 6 cities over the same period – more than 2 per day.
- Austria: 1,200 demonstrations and events in 7 cities over 471 days – also more than 2 per day.
- Netherlands: 1,950 demonstrations and events in 25 cities – over 4 per day.
The Palestinians in Europe
Palestinians in Europe have recognized the importance of political influence as a tool to support the Palestinian cause. Many have succeeded in gaining influential positions in local parliaments and European institutions. This has strengthened the Palestinian position and led to widespread condemnations of Israel across Europe.
After many Palestinians obtained citizenship – such as British, French, or Italian (there are no exact figures, but estimates suggest hundreds of thousands) – many of them actively engage in the Palestinian cause, from exerting political pressure on governments to participating in street demonstrations and poster campaigns. As mentioned, Palestinians in Europe have organized numerous marches and demonstrations against the war in Gaza over the past year and a half. These protests have pressured European authorities and governments, often resulting in condemnations of Israel and even boycott measures.
In the humanitarian field, numerous Palestinian organizations in Europe are active in charity and aid efforts. These organizations played a significant role in alleviating the humanitarian crisis recently experienced by Gaza residents, collecting donations and channeling them to support the people of Gaza.
Muslims in Europe and the Palestinian issue
Muslims and Palestinians in Europe might instrumentalize the Palestinian issue in various ways – to justify criminal acts or to rebel against host countries by linking the cause to emotionally charged political and religious motives.
Portraying the Palestinian conflict as part of a global “jihad”: Muslims in Europe might promote the idea that the Palestinian conflict is part of a “jihad” against what they perceive as Western occupation and tyranny. The Palestinian cause serves as a pretext to motivate young people to participate in violent actions during demonstrations. Many young Muslims in Europe (especially of Algerian descent, but not exclusively) view supporting the Palestinian cause as a means of resisting what they see as Western or colonial hegemony, emphasizing that this conflict is not limited to Palestinians but affects all Muslims in Europe.
Linking the Palestinian cause to the fight against the “common enemy”: Many imams in the West condemn the West, which can lead to extremist alliances that connect the Palestinian issue with anti-Western movements. They portray the conflict with Israel as part of a broader struggle against the West (including the USA and Europe). Such groups might attempt to depict the West as an enemy of Islam, thereby justifying violent actions against citizens or Western targets in Europe.
Exploiting feelings of solidarity: Many young Muslims might exploit the feelings of solidarity and compassion that many Muslims feel toward the “suffering” of Palestinians. These emotions are redirected into hatred and violence against targets representing Western or Israeli policies. Such groups might try to recruit young people by portraying violent actions as a response to the perceived ongoing oppression of Palestinians.
Religious rhetoric and the Al-Aqsa Mosque: Many Muslims in Europe might use religious rhetoric to justify their actions. The struggle for Palestine is presented as a religious duty; attacks on Jews, Israelis, or Western targets are legitimized as “defending Islam” and “helping Muslims,” even if such actions contradict human and religious values.
Amplifying emotional confrontation in the media: Many Muslims in Europe might use social media and reports about Palestinian suffering to stir anger and disappointment among young Muslims in Europe. By amplifying feelings of hatred and injustice, they might incite young people to violence or terrorist acts as a reaction to what they perceive as an attack on Muslims in Palestine.
Increase in antisemitism and attacks on Jews: Unfortunately, Jews abroad have repeatedly been targets of incitement and attacks by Palestinian organizations – in every Gaza war, including after October 7. Following the murder of Jews, many Jews in the UK and France faced antisemitic attacks and ongoing incitement by Muslims. The number of antisemitic incidents has doubled or even tripled in recent years in Europe.
Conclusion
Numerous pro-Palestinian demonstrations are spiraling out of control and causing anarchy on Europe’s streets. In many cases, demonstrators occupy squares, public spaces, or streets, accompanied by incitement against Jews and Israel or against the police attempting to intervene. These demonstrations are sometimes marked by violence from both police and protesters. The tension on the streets is rising – the Arabic chants, the loud music, all of it is unnecessary. Europe is not the Middle East. The problems of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should remain there and not be imported to Europe.
It is alarming that the millions of Muslim refugees who have arrived in Europe in recent years have changed the face of the continent. During Ramadan, hundreds of thousands of Muslims could be seen at protest rallies across Europe, praying in a display of power and, at times, provocation. They show no fear of the law or local police. Europe has become a stage for confrontations – not only between Palestinians and Israel but also for foreign conflicts on European soil, such as between Turks and Kurds.
The Palestinian issue has sparked numerous wars in the Arab world: nearly a coup in Jordan in July 1970, a civil war in Lebanon from 1975 to 1991, and others. This issue can influence the millions of Muslim migrants from the Middle East and Africa who have come to Europe. They could become a ticking time bomb in the Western world, serving as a recruitment tool for extremists incited to criminal or nationalistic acts by exploiting feelings of solidarity, political circumstances, and religious justifications for violence as a means to achieve their goals. Much of this occurs through Palestinian activists or in mosques.
In some cases, the Palestinian issue becomes a pretext to justify violence against individuals or communities these groups consider “enemies” or associate with events in Palestine.
Europeans must wake up. Alongside the Islamization process Europe is undergoing due to the daily influx of refugees, the continent has witnessed thousands of demonstrations and disruptions of public order since October 7, organized by Palestinians and their supporters. These demonstrations provide fertile ground for terrorism and vandalism, especially when protesters cover their faces, instilling fear and terror among citizens. European authorities must enact laws to curb these demonstrations. Germany has begun restricting them, but results remain to be seen. The protests often include threats against Jews and Israel, are frequently conducted in Arabic, and disturb citizens and public order. Europeans must prevent the war in the Middle East from spilling over into European territory, as this endangers Europe’s national security. Authorities must also ensure that migrants living in Europe are not brainwashed or recruited for the Palestinian cause.
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