Thousands March in Brussels Demanding Stronger Action on Gaza
Brussels, belgium - An estimated 70,000 to 110,000 people took to the streets of Brussels on Sunday in a presentation calling for increased pressure on Israel and the European Union regarding the situation in Gaza. The march, dubbed “Red Line for Gaza,” was organized by approximately one hundred organizations and NGOs, including CNCD-11.11.11,the Palestinian collective Beitna,Solidaris,the Union of Progressive Jews in Belgium,and socialist and Christian unions.
The demonstration began with a rally at Gare du Nord, featuring speeches from various advocates. Participants then marched towards Place Jean Rey, near the European institutions, many wearing red clothing and carrying red cards. This symbolic gesture aimed to highlight what demonstrators perceive as the “responsibility” of both the Belgian federal government and the EU.
Despite a recent agreement reached on Monday, organizers are pushing for further measures, asserting that the EU and its member states must present a unified front against what they describe as “The Israeli-American plan for ethnic treatment of Gaza.”
Gregory Mauzé, spokesperson for the Belgo-Palestinian association (ABP), stated, “Although the federal government has finally decided to take national measures against Israel, they are still far from meeting all the obligations of Belgium.” He continued, “These are small steps in the right direction, wich must be materialized quickly. They are not enough to put an end to the complicity of our country in the genocide. In addition, Belgium must demand that the European Union impose sanctions against israel.”
The demonstrators called for the swift and complete implementation of measures announced by the Arizona coalition on September 2nd, aimed at ending Israel’s impunity.Mauzé emphasized the impact of citizen pressure,saying,”Pressure from citizens and civil society has finally made it possible to move the lines and forced the government to get out of its guilty wait-and-see waitability,but the measures announced are still far from responding to our obligations with regard to international law.”
Beitna, the Palestinian organization, added, “After almost two years of genocide and 76 years of illegal Palestine occupation by Israel, Belgium can no longer hide behind empty promises. International and national law requires Belgium to end its complicity. Immediate sanctions and the termination of all Belgian and European agreements with Israel are not a question of choice: they constitute a legal and moral obligation. The fact of not acting will irreversibly tarnish the reputation and the concious of Belgium.”
(Belga – Photo : Belga Image (archive 11/05/2025))
Report by Jamila saïdi m’redet, Olivia Bronsart, and Laurence Paciarelli.
