Global Pro-Palestinian Events Planned for Oct. 7 Anniversary Spark Outrage

As Israel marks three years since the October 7th massacre, hundreds of pro-Palestinian events are scheduled worldwide for Wednesday, October 7, 2026. In Paris, the police banned a demonstration against the "genocide in Gaza and for a ceasefire" at the request of Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, amid ongoing violent protests in France for educational reforms. Israel's National Security Council issued a travel advisory urging heightened vigilance for Israelis abroad due to an increased risk of attacks and demonstrations, noting that terror groups view the date as significant. The advisory recommends avoiding early social media posts about overseas movements, steering clear of Level 4 travel advisory destinations like Jordan, Qatar, Somaliland, and Egypt, minimizing Hebrew speech in public in Level 3 countries, staying away from protests, and not posting content indicating security force service online.

In the United States, over 100 universities have been urged by the Israeli-American Council (IAC) to protect October 7th commemoration ceremonies from provocative anti-Israel student rallies. The IAC's SHIELD center sent letters to university presidents, including Ivy League institutions, requesting proactive measures for the safety of Jewish and Israeli students. Shagit Sadeh Atiya of the IAC stated that campus protests around Israel and October 7th have become disruptive and threatening, sometimes justifying violence. The IAC is also encouraging students to organize their own remembrance events and has distributed a guide, while the organization itself leads commemorations across the US featuring candle lighting, moments of silence, and personal stories.

In Australia, political leaders and Jewish community heads in New South Wales have strongly condemned pro-Palestinian events planned for Sydney and Wollongong on the massacre's anniversary. Michelle Goldman, CEO of the Jewish Community's Board of Deputies of NSW, compared the events to commemorating 9/11 terrorists, calling the disregard for victims "bizarre anti-Israel obsession." Premier Chris Minns labeled the initiative "offensive and disgraceful," but acknowledged legal restrictions and free speech protections would make a blanket ban difficult. Similar concerns have arisen in London, where police have urged organizers of a pro-Palestinian march to postpone it, citing fears of impact on the Jewish community and a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents since October 7th. Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman stressed "zero tolerance" for hate crimes and protest condition violations, though organizers have largely ignored police requests to communicate. Rafi Leon, president of the Union of Jewish Students in Britain, criticized the decision to protest on the anniversary as "provocative and deliberate," highlighting the existence of 365 other days for such demonstrations.