At least 75 pro-Palestinian demonstrations or anti-Israel events are scheduled worldwide between October 1 and October 14, with a concentration on October 7, marking three years since the 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, according to data released by Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism. The ministry identified a total of 262 events in 37 countries, highlighting potential security risks linked to some of the gatherings.
Of the total events, nearly 30% are planned for October 7 itself, with most others taking place over the weekend following that date. Approximately one-third of all identified demonstrations have been assessed as posing medium or high security risks. The countries with the highest number of events include the United States (45), Spain (40), Australia (21), the United Kingdom (19), and Italy (16). Germany and Canada each have 14 events, while France and the Netherlands have 10 and eight respectively.
Certain locations have been classified as high-risk hotspots, notably Canada, where four of the 14 planned events are designated as high risk. Greece, Italy, the United States, and Australia each have two events classified as high risk. Other significant venues hosting potentially volatile demonstrations include Barcelona, Bogotá, Paris, Istanbul, Bangkok, Santiago, London, Berlin, and Amsterdam.
The ministry’s report also notes that 45 events will take place near Israeli embassies, consulates, or other properties linked to Israel, with 30 situated within 2.5 kilometers of such locations. Examples include a demonstration at Dam Square in Amsterdam, an event approximately 300 meters from the Israeli Embassy in Helsinki, a high-risk gathering on Parliament Hill in Ottawa near the Israeli Embassy, and another in Frankfurt close to a hotel frequented by Israeli visitors. Although only a minority of events occur near Israeli diplomatic or commercial sites, nearly half of these proximity-based gatherings are classified as medium or high risk.
Further analysis reveals differences in organizational patterns across countries. In Spain, the protests largely appear connected to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, characterized by numerous smaller local events. In contrast, North American activities are primarily orchestrated by student and activist groups such as the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), and American Muslims for Palestine. Australia’s demonstrations are heavily influenced by groups like the Palestine Action Group Sydney and Canberra, Free Palestine Melbourne, and Students for Palestine, while the UK hosts fewer but larger events organized by established national entities such as the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and Friends of Al-Aqsa.
Concerns have been raised regarding potential ties between some organizing groups and designated terrorist organizations. Although the ministry’s report does not explicitly link Hamas, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), or Samidoun as event organizers, it identifies certain groups with documented associations or ideological overlaps. The Palestinian Youth Movement, responsible for high-risk protests in cities like Los Angeles, New York, Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto, has been noted for its connections to the PFLP, as evidenced by joint appearances at previous events alongside PFLP-affiliated figures and Samidoun members.
Similar scrutiny applies to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign in the United Kingdom. The PSC, organizer of several events including a high-risk demonstration scheduled for October 10 at Victoria Embankment Gardens, has been reportedly linked to Hamas support. A UK government review on political violence cites the PSC’s history of alleged support for Hamas, noting meetings between former PSC leaders and Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in 2012, as well as the group's advocacy for Palestinians' right to armed resistance. The review also highlights PSC’s opposition to the UK’s decision to proscribe Hamas as a terrorist organization in its entirety.
As the anniversary of the Hamas attacks approaches, security agencies in multiple countries are likely to monitor these demonstrations closely given the potential for unrest, particularly at events located near Israeli diplomatic missions or where organizers have controversial affiliations.