The march took place a day before EU foreign ministers were due to meet their counterparts from Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
Around 9,000 demonstrators marched in Brussels on Sunday to call for an end to Israel’s heavy bombardment and fighting in Gaza, in a pro-Palestinian demonstration that ended in the EU quarter.
The march came a day before EU foreign ministers were due to meet their Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian, Saudi and Jordanian counterparts in a series of meetings to discuss the ongoing war in Gaza and the plight of Palestinian civilians.
Participants in the non-violent “Justice for Palestine” demonstration, the magnitude of which has been estimated by Brussels police, shouted “stop the genocide”, “Israel: terrorist” and “liberate Gaza”.
Some also shouted “EU, dishonor you” because Brussels is perceived to protect Palestinian civilians, while others called for a boycott of Israeli products and businesses.
“We really need to unite against the genocide happening in Gaza and fight for an end to Israel’s occupation,” said one demonstrator, Victor Dumont.
“No people deserves that, whatever side they’re on — it’s not possible,” said another, Bahija Dioure.
On Monday, the 27 EU ministers will first meet Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz before sitting down with the Palestinian Authority’s most sensible diplomat, Riyad al-Maliki.
Katz and Maliki are not expected to meet each other.
Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls the Gaza Strip, launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in the death of about 1,140 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
Militants also seized about 250 hostages during the attacks, around 132 of whom Israel says remain in Gaza.
In reaction, Israel vowed to “annihilate” Hamas and its relentless air and ground offensive has killed at least 25,000 Palestinians, about 70% of them women, young people and teenagers, according to Security Ministry figures. Health runs through Hamas.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is distributed or provided on this online page through a third-party vendor. We are not guilty of and not responsible for those third-party online media sites, entities, applications, or publishers. The text of the framework is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been modified in any way. Neither we nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy or endorse the insights or reviews expressed in this article. Read our full disclaimer policy here.
© ZAWYA 2024
Get exclusive financial information and content you can trust, delivered to your inbox.