Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets in London, Paris and Rome on Saturday to call for a cease-fire as the first anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel approached. Security forces in several countries warned of heightened levels of alert in major cities, amid concerns that the escalating conflict in the Middle East could inspire new terror attacks in Europe or that some of the protests could turn violent. By midday Saturday, thousands had gathered in central London’s Russell Square amid a significant police presence. Scuffles broke out as police officers pushed back activists trying to get past a police cordon. Two people were arrested, London’s Metropolitan Police said.
