Almost two dozen people gathered in front of the US Embassy in Bratislava on Thursday to protest peacefully against the armed conflict in the Gaza Strip. The protest was convened in the wake of the global call from Amnesty International (AI), which is organising similar peaceful demonstrations around the world. The protesters urge the US Government, one of the largest arms exporters, to stop its sales and exports of arms to Israel and help impose the UN arms embargo on all sides embroiled in the military conflict in Gaza. The call was read in front of the US Embassy by AI Slovak branch director Jana Malovičová.
On Hviezdoslav Square, protesters lit candles. Afterwards, they symbolically threw flowers into the Danube River to commemorate the victims of the conflict. In this respect, AI has already issued a statement, in which it voices concerns and outrage over the rapidly worsening situation in Gaza and Israel. “Weapon transfers need to be suspended for as long as there is a risk that such devices or technologies might be used for perpetrating serious violations of international law and human rights”, said Malovičová. Some 1,800 Palestinians including 300 children, 64 Israeli soldiers and three Israeli civilians have died in the Gaza Strip since the conflict erupted a month ago.
