Parisians gather in mass pro-Palestine protests
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Demonstrators in Paris expressed pro-Palestine sentiments, called for an end to the forced displacement of Gazans, a halt to arms transfers to "Israel", and the lifting of the blockade on the besieged strip.
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People chant slogans holding banners that read "From Gaza to Paris - Resistance - Emergency Palestine" during a pro-Palestinian rally, in Paris, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023. (AP)
Gathering at Paris's Republic Square en-masse, Parisians proceeded with a march toward Bastille Square while chanting pro-Palestinian slogans. The demonstrators called for an end to the forced displacement of Gazans, a halt to arms transfers to "Israel", and the lifting of the blockade on the besieged strip.
Omar Alsoumi, one of the protesters, emphasized the urgency, stating, "When they starve and deprive people of water, when there are no longer functioning hospitals in the Gaza Strip, it is genocide, when they bomb and destroy houses and schools, it is genocide and that is what we are fighting against today".
Addressing the rally, Jean-Luc Melenchon, the leader of La France Insoumise (LFI), urged individuals to take pride in protesting, saying, "Have for yourself the glory of protest, against the anonymous silence of the murders who, hiding one behind the other, kill, kill, and kill again, thinking that in this way they will solve the problems"
Video footage depicted participants burning flares in the colors of the Palestinian flag and waving Palestinian flags while carrying signs with messages such as "Stop arms deliveries to Israel," "Freedom for all prisoners," and "Stop the massacres / Their lives are worth the lives of yours / Stop the genocide".
The protest, organized by the National Collective for a Just and Lasting Peace between Palestinians and Israelis, along with other groups like Urgence Palestine, commenced at Place de la Republique and concluded at Place de la Bastille.
Prominent figures including Jean-Luc Melenchon, Marin Tondelier, leader of Europe Ecology Greens (EELV), and Hala Abu Hassira, the Palestinian Ambassador to France, were present among the demonstrators.
Read more: France bans pro-Palestine protests, police clashes with protesters
France proposes law to sanction anti-Zionism
To silence pro-Palestinian voices and pro-Palestinian activism, a group of 16 French senators, the majority of whom are members of the political party The Republicans (LR), submitted a bill, led by Senator Stéphane Le Rudulier, to make anti-Zionism a criminal felony back in October.
Senator Le Rudulier claims that the surge in anti-Semitism is linked to anti-"Israel" sentiment.
The proposed bill, which was introduced to the Senate for a first reading, includes sanctions for numerous movements against Zionism and "Israel's" criminal acts. It intends to penalize anyone who denies the existence of the "State of Israel" with one year in prison and a EUR 45,000 fine.
The abrupt cancellation of the permit for a pro-Palestine protest march in France provided legal grounds for the police to employ a form of political repression reminiscent of the measures taken during the yellow vests protests – imposing substantial fines.
Just 90 minutes before a highly anticipated pro-Palestine march scheduled to take place in Paris late in October to denounce 'Israel's' atrocities in Gaza, local authorities suddenly rescinded the protest permit.
BREAKING: MASSIVE PRO-PALESTINE PROTESTS IN PARIS DESPITE FRANCE BAN
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) November 4, 2023
Thousands chanting:
“Israel assassin! Macron accomplice!”
They want a police state but the hearts of the people are with Palestinepic.twitter.com/giuLpU3Yj4
Read more: 'Diplomatic rebellion' against Macron's pro-'Israel' bias: Le Figaro
