Thousands march in Bern calling for Gaza ceasefire

Thousands took to the streets of Bern on Saturday, calling on the Swiss government to push for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox More than 10,000 people – or up to 20,000, according to organisers – marched through central Bern on Saturday afternoon in support for Gaza. The authorised demonstration remained peaceful overall, though a small group caused occasional disturbances, according to a journalist from the Keystone-SDA news agency. An estimated 10,000 people took part, with demonstrators travelling from across the country. There was a particularly strong turnout from French-speaking regions. Around 30 organisations, including the Swiss Trade Union Federation (USS), Amnesty International, the Social Democratic Party, the Greens and Campax, backed the protest. Their main demand was for the Federal Council, Switzerland’s executive body, to support an immediate, lasting and independently monitored ceasefire in Gaza. Cassis ...