Belgium: Over 20,000 attend pro-Palestine rally in Brussels

A pro-Palestinian demonstration in Brussels on Saturday attracted about 21,000 participants, according to police. Many of them marched peacefully through the city while chanting “Free Palestine” and calling for an end to hostilities in the Gaza Strip. “The current situation in Gaza is absolutely catastrophic,” exclaimed a protestor while holding a Dutch-language poster that said, “Ceasefire now!” Other demonstrators carried placards that said, among other things, “Human Rights for Palestinians,” “Stop the Genocide,” or that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested for allegedly committing war crimes. Western governments and many citizens have shown strong support and sympathy for Israel following the Hamas terrorist group’s attack in southern Israel on October 7. However, the Israeli military response has also incited resentment, leading to demonstrations calling for a ceasefire in cities all over the world. Over 100,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators demonstrated in London’s streets on Saturday. To demand a ceasefire in Gaza, thousands of protestors—among them some left-leaning lawmakers—marched through Paris while carrying Palestinian flags and banners. (With agency inputs)