Backed by global NGOs and Greta Thunberg, more than 10,000 demonstrators rallied in Copenhagen urging Denmark to recognize a Palestinian state and end Israel’s war on Hamas.
Over 10,000 protesters packed the streets of Copenhagen on Sunday in one of Denmark’s largest pro-Palestinian demonstrations to date, demanding official recognition of a Palestinian state and an end to Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
The mass rally — organized by a coalition of nearly 100 groups, including Oxfam, Amnesty International, Greenpeace, Danish political parties, labor unions, and climate activist Greta Thunberg — unfolded in front of the Danish parliament under clear skies.
Demonstrators waved PLO flags and carried placards that read: “Stop Arms Sales,” “Free Free Palestine,” and “Denmark Says No to Genocide.” Families, students, and activists marched side by side in a show of solidarity. Police declined to give an official turnout estimate, though organizers claimed more than 10,000 attendees.
The protest comes as Denmark’s government signals a harder line on Israel. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen recently warned that the war had gone “too far” and pledged to leverage Denmark’s upcoming EU presidency to increase pressure on Jerusalem. Denmark also joined 26 nations last month in calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, accusing Israel of severely restricting humanitarian aid.
Yet despite the mounting pressure, Copenhagen has clarified that it will not formally recognize a Palestinian state — at least not for now.
The protest highlights the growing rift between Denmark’s traditional support for Israel and the escalating grassroots push to back Palestinian statehood.
