Swiss police announced on Sunday that 18 officers and several protesters were injured during large demonstrations in the capital Bern supporting Palestine and opposing the Israeli war on Gaza.

The police stated in a press conference that the protest, which involved about five thousand people, did not have prior authorization. Clashes broke out when security forces tried to restrict the movement of protesters who threw stones and projectiles at police officers.

The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation reported that police responded by using tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters, confirming that at least one person was arrested.

Deputy Commander of Bern Canton Police, Michael Pitschen, explained that “the behavior of some protesters forced the police to use coercive measures,” as he described.

The police added that more than 50 buildings in the city had their windows smashed and had pro-Palestine slogans written on them, with the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation estimating the damage in the millions of francs.

Although such clashes are rare in Switzerland, a previous protest in Geneva in early October saw similar confrontations between police and Gaza supporters.

During the protest, police reported via the platform “X” that the general mood was heated, with some participants wearing masks and chanting slogans condemning the Israeli aggression on Gaza.

These developments come as the ceasefire in Gaza holds for the third consecutive day, paving the way for a prisoner exchange expected to include the release of Palestinian and Israeli prisoners, ahead of the anticipated speech by former US President Donald Trump before the Israeli Knesset.