Several demonstrations took place in France this Thursday, October 2 at night to denounce the interception of the Israeli Navy of the Gaza Aid flotilla.
A few thousand people found themselves in the place of the République in Paris in the call of France Rebelde before being dispersed by the police.
“I want to say here all our solidarity” with the people who were aboard the flotilla and who are currently in police custody in Israel, said the owner of the deputies of LFI, Mathilde Panot, in front of the protesters who used most of the Palestinian flags.
Together with the rebel leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon and the LFI coordinator Manuel Bompard, he asked “not only the release of flotilla activists” but also “the suspension of the agreement between the European Union and Israel, the sanctions against Benjamin Netanyahu and what happens to France does something.”
“There is no peace in the world without justice in Palestine,” “stops killing the children of Palestine,” “Librara the flotilla. Palestine Libere,” he sang to the protesters.
“Citizen mobilization is ultra important for the government to understand that one cannot pretend that nothing has happened,” said Céline, consultant of international organizations, who did not want to give their last name.
After the speeches, the police made two positions to disperse the protesters, using tear gas, said an AFP journalist.
“We are there in solidarity”
Meetings have also been held in several other cities in France.
In Marseille, several hundred protesters met at the end of the day in front of the Prefecture to claim the release of the flotilla activists, but also to denounce the arrest of one hundred activists in the afternoon while trying to block the headquarters of the Marseille Eurolinks Army Company, accused of selling military components in Israel.
In Lille, 200 people have shown Palestinian flags. “We are in solidarity with the Palestinian people and with those who have the courage to participate in the flotilla. These are legal actions, illegally repressed,” said Anne-Laure, 30.
In Lyon, there were about 300 and almost 500 in Grenoble, according to figures transmitted by the Prefecture. Sym and Karim explained that they are frequently demonstrated for two years against “genocide” in Gaza. But tonight, they particularly claim that “the French government guarantees the security of its fellow citizens, and that Israel respects international law.”
In Rennes, several hundred protesters gathered in the center of the city. 12 people were arrested outside the demonstration, according to the prefecture of Iille-Et-Vilaine. Thousands of people also paraded Thursday in several European countries.
Source: BFM TV
