In front of the Vienna State Opera building, on Herbert von Karajan square, a group of around 35 people participated in a theatrical, rehearsed performance that highlighted the current Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.
It was initiated by the Facebook community "Austrian activists for Palestine".
After an initial joyful dance of the Palestinians, those marked as Israeli soldiers were thrown to the ground and threatened with toy weapons. They were then covered with Palestinian flags.
A small representation of a UN school was set up, in which a Palestinian family was trying to hide – it was then 'attacked' by Israeli soldiers, who also prevented Red Cross medics from coming to their aid.
The performance was accompanied by the sounds of bomb attacks, street noise and piercing sirens.
According to Israa Doghman, one of the organizers of the "Austrian activists for Palestine," the aggression arises solely from Israel. When she was asked about the role of Hamas and its on-going campaign of firing missiles at civilian targets into Israel, she refused to comment.
The goal is to achieve peace and an end to the suffering of the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip, she told the APA.
At the end of the event there were, according to organizers, between 350 and 400 people, while police estimate there were around 200 persons.
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