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Pro-Palestinian protesters interrupt German Chancellor at book fair

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Mar 2024 03:33
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One person could be heard shouting, "It's not a humanitarian disaster, it's a genocide."

Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shake hands after delivering their speeches in occupied al-Quds, on March 17, 2024. (AP Photo)

Pro-Palestinian protesters heckled and interrupted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday as he tried to give a speech at the opening of the Leipzig Book Fair.

Several loud cries could be heard as Scholz began his speech at Germany's second-largest book fair after Frankfurt.

The Leipziger Volkszeitung newspaper said the protesters appeared to be pro-Palestinian activists and one person could be heard shouting, "It's not a humanitarian disaster, it's a genocide."

Scholz stopped his speech to address the protesters, telling them, "Stop shouting, that's enough."

"The power of the word brings us all together here in Leipzig, not the power of shouting," he added.

A man could later be heard calling on the audience to protest against arms deliveries to "Israel" amid the ongoing aggression on the besieged Gaza Strip.

The group "Strike Germany" has called on creative workers to boycott cultural institutions in the country, with a petition gathering hundreds of signatures, among them Nobel-winning author Annie Ernaux.

Nicaragua accuses Germany of helping genocide in Gaza before ICJ

It is noteworthy that in early March, Nicaragua accused Germany of facilitating genocide in Gaza in a case started in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), by giving support to "Israel" and suspending funding of the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA.

Through those measures, "Germany is facilitating the commission of genocide and, in any case has failed in its obligation to do everything possible to prevent the commission of genocide," Nicaragua argued in a filing published by the Hague-based court.

Nicaragua was asking the court to take a swift interim stance against Germany before the case was given an in-depth study by judges.

The lodging of the case follows the ICJ saying on January 26 that "Israel" must do everything to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza and take "immediate" measures for aid provisions.