(MENAFN) Thousands of Palestine advocates gathered in Austria on Saturday to protest and demand an end to what they described as the genocide being carried out by Israel in Gaza. The demonstrators also called for the imposition of sanctions against Israel.

The event was jointly organized by over 50 civil society groups based in Vienna and drew a large crowd of Palestine supporters. Participants waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans including “Boycott Israel” and “Europe funds, Israel bombs.”

Protesters displayed signs with messages such as “Stop the genocide in Gaza, sanctions now” and “Austria, you cannot hide; you support genocide.”

The crowd then marched to the area housing the Chancellor’s Office, Foreign Ministry, and Presidential Palace, urging an immediate halt to the violence in Gaza and sanctions on Israel.

During the demonstration, Catholic priest Franz Sieder addressed the crowd, highlighting the prolonged inhumane treatment and near-enslavement of Palestinians over many years.

He condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as one of the worst criminals of this era, accusing him of causing the deaths of 60,000 people, including 20,000 children. Sieder also expressed disappointment over the Austrian government’s silence on the matter.

Furthermore, Sieder welcomed the recent ceasefire agreement in Gaza and emphasized the necessity for Palestinians to be granted fundamental democratic and social rights.

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