Displaying placards and banners with messages such as “I am Gaza” and “Peace cannot be achieved through occupation,” between 250 and 300 protesters assembled around Place de l’Europe.
The demonstration, organised by the Committee for a Just Peace in the Middle East, started at 2pm and drew supporters rallying in solidarity with the people of Palestine.
“We have more than 11,000 Palestinians killed and twenty thousand injured. Houses destroyed. Hospitals attacked or surrounded,” remarked Hassan Albalawi, head of bilateral relations between Palestine and Luxembourg.
The organisers, along with the vast majority of countries and citizens of the world, are calling first and foremost for an immediate ceasefire, but also for an end to the complete siege affecting the entire population of Gaza as well as for access to humanitarian aid.
Leaders of the demonstration are advocating for the release of all Israeli hostages and Palestinian political prisoners. They highlight the necessity of lifting the Gaza blockade, in place since 2007, and endorse the establishment of a Palestinian state in accordance with international law.
They also call for an end to the EU’s unconditional support for Israel and the recall of Luxembourg’s ambassador to Israel.
Finally, in a bid to strike a balance between the two peoples, the demonstrators are also pushing for an expedited investigation into war crimes by the International Criminal Court – regardless of whether the crimes were committed by the Israeli army or Palestinian armed groups.
In London, around 300,000 demonstrators took to the streets on Saturday, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza under the vigilant watch of a heavy police presence to prevent disorder, while nationalist counter-demonstrators are also present in large numbers in the UK capital. This “National March for Palestine” started around 12:00 GMT, following closely on the heels of First World War armistice commemorations held throughout the country over the weekend. Amidst a sea of Palestinian flags and placards demanding the end to the bombing of Gaza, protesters shouted slogans such as “Free Palestine” and “Ceasefire now.” The march unfolded five weeks after a deadly attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on Israel, prompting a substantial response with massive bombings in the Gaza Strip.
Given the potential for unrest, a large security force has been deployed in the British capital. This precaution follows the prior arrest of nearly 200 individuals during marches organised since 7 October.
The demonstration proceeds against the government’s advice, which deemed it “disrespectful” during a weekend marked by commemorations. On Friday evening, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak appealed to the demonstrators, urging them to march “peacefully and with respect.”
