Pro-Palestinian march in Prague calls for Czech action over war in Gaza

More than 100 people marched through central Prague on Saturday, Oct. 10, in support of Palestinians, calling on the Czech government to recognize Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide and impose an arms embargo.

The demonstration began at náměstí Míru, where speakers included former Czech ombudswoman and Charter 77 signatory Anna Šabatová, alongside representatives of the student groups FAMU Solidární and FFUK proti genocidě. Speakers criticized Czech politicians’ response to the conflict.

Participants left shortly after 3 p.m. and reached Můstek around 4 p.m. The event ended around 5 p.m.

Marchers chanted slogans including “Freedom for Palestine,” “Children in Gaza are starving” and “Not with our taxes.”

The procession drew both supportive and hostile reactions from bystanders. At the opening gathering, protesters verbally confronted two young people carrying an Israeli flag. Police officers intervened to calm the exchanges.

Organizers called on the Czech government to acknowledge that genocide was taking place in Gaza, halt arms transfers to Israel and work to ensure humanitarian aid could reach affected areas.

Jana Ridvanová of the Friends of Palestine association said the announced ceasefire existed “only on paper.” She alleged that Palestinians continued to face hunger, bombardment and killings.

An independent U.N. commission of inquiry concluded in September 2025 that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza. Israel rejects the accusation.

Saturday’s protest came three days after the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel. The attackers killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 hostages into Gaza.

Israel’s subsequent bombardment and ground offensive have killed approximately 74,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run administration, ČTK reported. The ministry’s total does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

Several hundred people gathered at Prague’s náměstí Jana Palacha on Oct. 7 for a separate commemoration organized by the Czech Society of Friends of Israel.

The event outside the Rudolfinum remembered those killed in the attacks and expressed solidarity with families affected by the hostage-taking and subsequent war. Participants carried Israeli flags, and the gathering included prayers, personal recollections and warnings about antisemitism.

In a statement marking the anniversary, the Czech Foreign Ministry condemned attempts to portray terrorists as victims and victims as perpetrators. It said terrorism could neither be excused nor relativized and described the Hamas attacks as barbarity directed at innocent people.