Croatian activists stage performance to draw attention to murdered children in Gaza

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Croatian activists staged a performance Friday in the capital, Zagreb, to draw attention to murdered children in the Gaza Strip from Israel's airstrikes.

Activists from the Block Collective and the Free Palestine Initiative gathered at the Dolac market near the historical Ban Jelacic Square to build a tower made of children's shoes to protest Israel's attacks on Gaza.

Attracting the attention of those crossing the square, participants left used children's shoes on cardboard boxes.

A banner read: "They can't kill us all" was opened.

Ivana Hanacek, who made a statement on behalf of the group, said Gaza has turned into a mass grave after Israel killed more than 20,000 victims in Palestine since Oct. 7.

"Old people, women, and patients are being killed, hospitals are being bombed. They are killing children and even newborn babies. We raise our voice against the madness of war. We demand an immediate cease-fire for a free Palestine,'' she said during the performance.

The shoes would be delivered to Palestinian children.

Croatia is the only Balkan country that openly supported Israel since Oct. 7.

The government said it fully supports Israel as it acts based on the right to defend itself.

Croatia was among four EU states, including Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, that voted "No" to a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip among 27 member states from the bloc in a UN General Assembly vote.