WASHINGTON, Jan 10: Tens of thousands of people gathered outside the White House on Saturday, urging the incoming Obama administration to persuade Israel to stop its ground and air offensives inside Gaza. In Europe demonstrators clashed with police, forcing the latter to use tear gas.

The protesters in Washington called upon the United States to immediately stop its military assistance to Israel.

They seemed particularly upset with Israel for refusing to accept the latest UN Security Council resolution which calls for an immediate halt to the Israeli aggression.

The organisers said more than 100,000 had pledged to attend the rally by Friday and they were expecting more than 200,000 people to join the protest against the Israeli aggression.

Similar protests are also being held in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Reuters adds: Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched in cities across Europe and the Middle East to protest against Israel’s offensive in Gaza, with sporadic clashes with police as some rallies turned violent.

Police in riot gear confronted around 20,000 protesters waving banners and Palestinian flags outside the Israeli embassy in central London, while Oslo police used teargas as they fought activists on the streets of the Norwegian capital.

About 30,000 took to the streets of Paris to call for an end to Israeli attacks in Gaza, with many demonstrators wearing Palestinian keffiyah headscarves and chanting “we are all Palestinians”, “Israel murderer” or “peace”.

“We are here to demand the end to this unacceptable war. There are more than 800 victims, including numerous children and civilians. We cannot accept that,” said Communist Party leader Marie-George Buffet at the Paris march.

More than 40,000 people protested against the assault in towns across Germany, while demonstrators outside the Israeli embassy in Dublin carried a mock coffin, covered with pictures of wounded or dead Palestinian children.

Thousands of Lebanese who turned out for an Ashura gathering in the southern Lebanese town of Nabatiyeh also protested against Israel’s offensive in Gaza. They carried Hezbollah and Palestinian flags.

“We tell the people of Gaza and to the elderly in Gaza and to the heroes of the resistance, you are not alone, we are with you ... victory is yours, God willing,” said Mohammed Raad, a senior Hezbollah official, addressing the crowd.--Reuters