On Wednesday, the Arab League convened an emergency meeting in Cairo, where it called on Israel to immediately halt its attacks on Gaza, and for a return to negotiations with Palestinians.

In Brussels, Belgium, leaders of the European Commission and European Parliament led a moment of silence Wednesday for victims of Hamas. The EU leaders did not mention Palestinian civilians killed by Israel. Landmarks across Europe were lit up in the blue-and-white colors of the Israeli flag — the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Bulgarian parliament and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, where on Wednesday several hundred protesters defied a ban on pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Several protesters were arrested. Elsewhere, hundreds in Vienna, Austria, defied a ban on protests to call for an end to Israel’s assault on Gaza.