Tension Erupts in Geneva: Police Clash with Pro-Gaza Protesters

In Geneva, Switzerland, police used tear gas and water cannons on protesters supporting the Gaza flotilla. The protests erupted after Israeli forces intercepted a convoy of boats carrying aid and activists, including Greta Thunberg, to Gaza, sparking global demonstrations in Europe and Latin America.

On Thursday evening, Geneva's usually calm streets turned tumultuous as police deployed tear gas and water cannons against demonstrators marching in support of the Gaza flotilla. Eyewitnesses reported a fierce clash with law enforcement, marked by stinging eyes and overwhelming smoke.

The unrest was ignited by Israel's recent interception of an aid flotilla headed to Gaza, which included 40 vessels, over 400 activists, and notably, Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg. The incident sparked a wave of protests across Geneva, Bern, and beyond, reaching as far as Italy and Colombia.

The Geneva police, led by spokesperson Alexandre Brahier, reported that 3,000 protesters took to the streets. While maintaining that the crowd was largely unarmed, Brahier noted the use of tear gas was necessitated by acts of vandalism and the throwing of objects, a rare occurrence in Switzerland's protest history.

(With inputs from agencies.)