In pics | Thousands rally worldwide for Gaza as war nears first anniversary

Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in major cities across the world on Saturday, calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza. (AP photo)

The protests coincided with the first anniversary of the war in Gaza, which started when Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. (AP photo)

The attack resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths, and around 250 people were taken as hostages, according to Israeli reports. (AP photo)

Israel's response has led to the deaths of nearly 42,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, and displaced almost all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. (AP photo)

In London, around 40,000 people marched in support of Palestinians, demanding an end to the bloodshed. (AP photo)

Protester Agnes Kory criticized the British government, saying, "They just go ahead and continue their atrocities in Gaza." (AP photo)

Clashes broke out in Rome as around 6,000 protesters defied a ban on marching, with police using tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd. (AP photo)

Berlin saw about 1,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators, with tensions rising between protesters and the police.(AP photo)

At the same time, pro-Israel supporters in Berlin gathered to protest against what they said was a rise in antisemitism. (AP photo)

In Manila, activists clashed with police near the US embassy, protesting American support for Israel. (AP photo)

The conflict has spread beyond Gaza, with Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq now involved.(AP photo)

Israel has ramped up its campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, escalating tensions further. (AP photo)

Iran recently launched a barrage of missiles against Israel, heightening fears of a broader regional war. (AP photo)

Houssam Houssein, a protester in Paris, expressed concern: "We fear a regional war... we really need to stop the war." (AP photo)

Despite international calls for a ceasefire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that the war will continue until Hamas is eradicated. (AP photo)