Despite facing police repression, pro-Palestine demonstrations are continuing across Europe for a third consecutive day. The protests are in response to the recent escalation of violence in Gaza, attributed to actions by the Israeli government.
In France, large-scale demonstrations have been ongoing, with the largest gathering taking place in Paris on Wednesday. Thousands assembled at Place Saint-Augustin, expressing solidarity with the people of Gaza and condemning what they describe as genocide perpetrated by the Israeli regime. The crowd chanted, "Gaza...Paris is with you," and voiced strong disapproval of French President Emmanuel Macron's support for Israel.
Violent clashes erupted as French police attempted to disperse the demonstrators, leading to a tense standoff between the protesters and law enforcement.
In Sweden, similar scenes unfolded as police, using dogs, confronted student protesters at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. The students were demonstrating against the violence in Gaza, which has drawn widespread international condemnation.
In Belgium, students at the University of Ghent (UGent) held a silent protest in solidarity with Palestine. Earlier this month, UGent announced it would sever ties with three Israeli academic institutions in response to the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, in London, protesters gathered outside Downing Street to decry what they termed as Israel’s war crimes in Gaza. The demonstrators accused the British government of complicity in the violence, citing its military, financial, and political support for Israel. They called for an immediate cessation of such support.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reported on Wednesday that since October, 36,171 Palestinians have been killed and 81,420 injured, the majority of whom are women and children.
These protests reflect a growing sense of urgency and solidarity among European citizens, who are calling on their governments to reevaluate their positions and actions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
