Pro-Palestinian rallies turn violent in Switzerland
Dozens injured as protests in Bern and Geneva escalate into clashes
Police reported that 18 officers and several civilians were injured after large pro‑Palestinian demonstrations in Bern and Geneva turned violent. In Bern, authorities said an unauthorized march drew up to 5,000 people and escalated when some participants threw objects and bricks. Video footage and broadcaster reports showed police deploying water cannons and tear gas to contain the crowd, and multiple arrests were made. More than 50 properties in the city suffered damage—smashed windows and graffiti—costs that Swiss broadcaster SRF said could reach into the millions of francs. Police described the Bern rally as organised by pro‑Palestinian groups from across the country.
In Geneva, an authorised march near international institutions broke into confrontations after parts of the crowd attempted to breach security perimeters around diplomatic zones. Police used water cannon, tear gas and baton charges to prevent access; officers reported similar injuries and detained several protesters. Authorities said some demonstrators had thrown projectiles during the clashes. The injured officers in both cities sustained mostly minor to moderate wounds—bruises, strains and one reported concussion—and received treatment at the scene or in hospital.
Witnesses in both cities said protesters marched under Palestinian flags and chanted for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, while criticizing Swiss neutrality and urging the government to adopt a firmer stance. The Bern demonstration was verified through imagery and metadata by news agencies, which also noted the rare scale of the unrest for Switzerland. Officials expressed regret over the violence and pledged to review security arrangements for future demonstrations, especially those tied to sensitive foreign policy issues.
The incidents follow earlier pro‑Gaza protests in Switzerland that similarly resulted in clashes with police, reflecting heightened domestic tensions as public pressure mounts for a clearer policy response to the Israel–Palestine conflict.
