Geneva, Copenhagen, Paris, London: pro-Palestinian demonstrations are increasing

2023-10-14 23:28:13

Banned on French soil, certain pro-Palestinian demonstrations still manage to take place in France. Gatherings are also emerging elsewhere in Europe, in England and Switzerland. In Geneva, there were nearly 6,000 people walking the streets behind the “Liberate Palestine” banner. Since last Saturday, the cruelty of Hamas’ surprise attack in Israel had mainly focused attention on the fate of Israelis killed or captured. But the response of the Jewish state and the situation in Gaza have brought many pro-Palestinian supporters to the streets.

“What you call self-defense is in fact genocide”, is written on signs in Geneva, between “end apartheid”, “boycott Israel” and “save the children of Gaza” . Further west, thousands of demonstrators defied the ban. Thursday evening, there were already around 3,000 marching in Paris, before being dispersed with tear gas.

Although prohibited by an order from the prefect of police Laurent Nuñez, Friday October 13, a pro-Palestinian rally was held again this Saturday afternoon, Place de la République between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. A static demonstration organized “in support of the resistance of the Palestinian people”. The police arrested 19 people (including the organizer) and issued 752 fines to the participants. At 5:30 p.m. the police headquarters indicated that the demonstration had been dispersed and that enforcement operations were continuing.

Events authorized in London and Copenhagen

For these French gatherings to become legal, an appeal was also filed on Saturday before the Council of State. He requests the suspension of the ban on pro-Palestinian demonstrations ordered Thursday by the Minister of the Interior. “A general and absolute ban completely ignores several public freedoms, including the right to demonstrate. It is part of a context of politicization of public order, where the State should guarantee all expressions of solidarity,” Maître Vincent Brengarth, one of the lawyers of the Comité Action Palestine association, told AFP.

In London, demonstrators were allowed to walk. However, the police were on the lookout – more than 1,000 officers deployed – and had warned that they would arrest anyone showing support for Hamas. Thousands of pro-Palestinians gathered in the English capital, but other cities in the United Kingdom were the scene of gatherings, such as Manchester and Edinburgh.

“They are experiencing a catastrophe,” denounced Belal Stitan, a 22-year-old student, whose relatives are suffering from the blockade in Gaza. No food, no water. I speak with them, I hear their voices, their dry mouths, their hope which is gradually fading. » The author of the call to demonstrate in London, Ben Jamal, sought to send a message to the British political class. The one “which gives Israel the green light to commit war crimes,” according to the director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign organization.

The red, black, white and green standards were also out in Copenhagen. 20% of Danes believe that the Palestinians have the right to defend themselves against Israel, for example with an attack like the one that Hamas carried out last Saturday, according to a Voxmeter poll published by the Ritzau agency. While 41% disagree with this statement, nearly a thousand demonstrators marched towards the Town Hall Square in the Danish capital.

Copenhagen, DK???????? Live from my own street just now: Massive protest in support of the people of Palestine to stop massacre in Gaza????????

“Free, Free Palestine” pic.twitter.com/B1YZThPdMu

—Dr. Anastasia Maria Loupis (@DrLoupis) October 14, 2023

There too, police surveillance was tight. “A genocide is happening,” was written on signs. The conflict in the Middle East has continued to divide opinion in Europe and around the world.