On Tuesday, during an “Urgent Action for Rafah” protest, anti-Israel rioters clashed with police outside the Israeli embassy in Mexico City.
Local media said that masked demonstrators hurled stones at security forces and threw smoke and firebombs over police barricades. Over 200 rioters joined the protest and the visuals emerging from the protest show fire erupting near the embassy premises. The violent protest left 18 Mexico City police officials injured.
🚨🇮🇱🇲🇽 The Israeli Embassy has been set on fire in Mexico
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) May 29, 2024
This comes a day after the Israel embassy in Istanbul, Turkey was set ablaze pic.twitter.com/9pkqs98R25
Reports say that sixteen officers were rushed to the hospital with burns and other injuries, while two more were treated on the spot.
Multiple fires broke out near the embassy, causing damage to five bus stations, multiple shops, a police vehicle, and park benches.
After Turkey sets ablaze the vicinity of the Israeli embassy, citizens in Mexico finally show the world how to react to the perpetrators of the live streamed geñocide we’ve been watching for 8 months. pic.twitter.com/19CuvoyvRt
— Ibrahim ابراهيم (@IbrahimBuk20567) May 29, 2024
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry of Israel said, “There were no casualties but minor damage was caused in the vicinity of the embassy. Israeli diplomats were not harmed and small damage was done to the vicinity of the embassy.
The violent protest came in response to an Israeli attack on a displacement camp outside Rafah on Sunday, which reportedly killed 45 people. However, Israeli Defence Forces spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that the IDF targeted a closed structure that was away from the tent camp. He added that IDF is investigating if a secondary explosion, due to a nearby weapons cache, “exploded and ignited the fire”.
Notably, Mexico recently requested to join South Africa’s International Court of Justice action against Israel. The case seeks to “immediately halt” Israel’s operation against Hamas terrorists in Rafah.
Protests outside the Israeli embassy in Turkey
It is pertinent to mention that the violent protest outside the Israeli embassy came right after a similar protest was held outside the Israeli embassy in Turkey. On Monday (27th May) night, thousands rallied at the Israeli consulate in Istanbul to protest over Israel’s offensive in Rafah. A Molotov cocktail was thrown at the building. Reports say that a group of demonstrators set fire to the Israeli embassy’s vicinity. The protestors raised “down with Israel” slogans.
Dozens of people sat in front of the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul to protest against Israel's treatment of Palestinian refugees displaced from Rafah. pic.twitter.com/KEgZqKR04Y
— Tech News (@TechTdv) May 28, 2024
Several demonstrators congregated near the American consulates in Istanbul and Turkey’s Adana province. Notably, Israel withdrew its diplomats from Turkey in October, over security concerns, although some of the lower-level officials resumed their work.
🇹🇷🇵🇸 BREAKING | Angry Turkish protesters set fire to the Israeli embassy in Istanbul.
— Shadi Qudaih (@shadi_qh) May 27, 2024
Unfortunately, some Arabs make the pilgrimage to the Israeli embassy as if it were Mecca!!
Thanks Turkey! pic.twitter.com/RC5fgLp6Qi
Later on Tuesday, several college students assembled on campuses in at least nine provinces, protesting against Israel’s operation in Rafah.
On Monday, a massive anti-Israel protest was organised outside the Israeli embassy in Paris. Over 10,000 demonstrators gathered a few hundred metres (yards) from the embassy in the heart of the French capital, chanting “We are all Gaza children,” “Free Gaza,” and other pro-Palestinian slogans. Protests took place on Monday in Madrid and Barcelona.