Gaza march in Brussels draws more than 75,000 participants

Between 75,000 and 110,000 residents and represenatives from trade unions, youth organisations, cultural centres and associations joined a protest on Sunday in support of Palestine.

The participants wore red to symbolically draw a line against Israel’s violence in Gaza, Bruzz reports.

“The message was loud and clear: war crimes must not go unpunished, aid must not be blocked, impunity must end,” said 11.11.11, one of more than 100 organisations behind the demonstration.

“A month ago, the federal government reached an agreement on additional measures for Palestine. But so far, there has been deafening silence. Words are no longer enough. It’s time for action.”

11.11.11 pointed to a recent Le Soir poll which showed that 70% of Belgians believe that Belgium and Europe should impose sanctions on Israel.

The protest’s participants came from all over Belgium, with one Ghent demonstrator telling Bruzz: “We’re convinced that it’s important to be here in large numbers today. This has gone on for far too long.”

Another participant from Antwerp said that “apathy is the worst thing that could happen to us. It’s distressing that the 50 to 100 deaths per day there hardly affect us anymore. This madness must stop.”

The march started at Brussels North with speeches by Palestinian and Jewish voices, interspersed with musical performances by Koen Wauters and Tine Embrechts, Zwangere Guy and Tamino.

“Every human being needs a safe place to call home and it breaks my heart that the Palestinians don't have that place,” said Embrechts.

“They’re being driven out, murdered and starved. I don't know how to explain this to my children any more and I can't stand by and do nothing. Doing nothing is tantamount to silent acceptance.”

The large-scale protest on Sunday followed a smaller one on Saturday, called Brussels Ride for Palestine.

Between 300 and 400 motorcyclists took part – including bikers from abroad such as a large delegation from the Netherlands.

They protested on their motorcycles against the Israeli attacks on Gaza and the occupation of the West Bank.

After gathering at the Atomium, the pro-Palestinian motorcyclists followed a route through Brussels from Laeken to Brussels-Midi.

Protestors are increasing the pressure on politicians to take action, hanging posters around the Schuman roundabout that call out politicians by name.

The posters feature photos of leaders of pro-Israel lobby groups and the caption: "He/she lobbies for genocide".

The poster campaign focuses on three leading figures from three organisations: AJC Transatlantic Institute, Elnet (European Leadership Network) and EJA (European Jewish Association), one of the largest pan-European Jewish associations. These are well-structured organisations which are aligned with the Netanyahu government and have offices in Brussels.

“We demand a ban on lobbying throughout Brussels for Israeli lobbyists because they represent and defend a regime that is committing genocide and is guilty of the ongoing oppression of the Palestinian people,” said activist group Lobby Against, which is behind the poster initiative.

Lobby Against points out that a similar ban has been imposed on Russian lobbyists.

The Coordinating Committee of Jewish Organisations in Belgium (CCOJB) responded to the poster campaign with concern, seeing it as proof that anti-Semitism is on the rise in Brussels.

“A target has clearly been placed on the backs of these people,” said EJA chairman and rabbi Menachem Margolin, who is featured in the posters.

“When your face is plastered on a wall under the label ‘genocidal’, you’re dehumanised. This is not protest, this is persecution. And it is a chilling echo of some of the darkest moments in Europe’s past. It is tragically clear that Jews are once again unsafe on this continent.”

Anti-Israel graffiti has also appeared in several places in Brussels in response to the bloodshed in Gaza.