18 Swiss cops injured in clashes with anti-Israel rioters who damaged 50 properties

Eighteen police officers and several people were injured yesterday after thousands of anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets of Bern, police say, adding the demonstration was unauthorized.

The protest in the Swiss capital against the war against Hamas in Gaza turned violent when police tried to restrict the movement of the protesters, who were throwing objects and bricks, police said at a press conference.

Swiss national broadcaster SRF reported that police used tear gas and water cannon against the crowd of up to 5,000 people who attended the march.

“This behavior… forced the police to use coercive measures,” Michael Bettschen, deputy regional head of the Bern cantonal police, says. One person was arrested.

Such confrontations are rare for Switzerland, although an anti-Israel protest on October 2 in Geneva also led to clashes between police and protesters.

More than 50 properties in Bern were damaged, with windows smashed and graffiti sprayed on buildings, police say. The damage is likely to run into millions of Swiss francs, SRF reports, adding that the rally was organized by pro-Palestinian groups from across Switzerland.

The police said in a statement on X during the protest yesterday that the mood was “heated,” with some people wearing masks and chanting slogans.