In a rare instance of civil unrest, Geneva police resorted to using tear gas and water cannons to control a protest supporting the Gaza flotilla on Thursday evening. Eyewitnesses confirmed that thousands took to the streets, responding to Israel's recent interception of the aid-laden flotilla.
The flotilla, comprised of around 40 vessels carrying foreign activists, made headlines when Israeli forces halted its progress. Among the activists was Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg. Protests emerged not only in Switzerland but also in Italy and Colombia, sparked by the interception.
Geneva police spokesperson Alexandre Brahier reported that approximately 3,000 demonstrators congregated, primarily adults and young men. While the protesters were not armed, some engaged in throwing objects