Thousands Marchโ in Brussels Demanding Strongerโฃ Action on Gaza
Brussels, belgium โ- An estimated 70,000 to 110,000โ people took to โขthe streets of Brussels on Sunday in โขa presentation calling for โคincreased โฃpressureโค on Israel โฃand the European Union regarding the situation in Gaza. โฃThe march, dubbed “Red Line for Gaza,”โ was organized by approximately one hundred โฃorganizations and NGOs, including CNCD-11.11.11,the Palestinian collective Beitna,Solidaris,the Unionโ of Progressive Jewsโข in Belgium,andโค socialist and Christian unions.
The demonstration began with a rally at Gare du Nord,โ featuring speeches โfrom various advocates. Participantsโค then marched towards Place Jean Rey, near โthe European institutions, many wearing red clothing and carrying red cards. This symbolic gesture aimed to โคhighlight what demonstrators perceive โขas the “responsibility” โฃof both the Belgian federal government and โคthe EU.
Despite a recent โagreementโ reached on Monday, โorganizers are pushing for further measures,โ asserting that the โEU and its member states must present a unified frontโฃ against โฃwhat they describe as “The Israeli-American plan for ethnic treatment of Gaza.”
Gregory Mauzรฉ, spokesperson โฃfor the Belgo-Palestinian association (ABP), stated, “Although the federal โgovernment has finally decided to take national measures against Israel,โ they โare still far from meetingโ all theโ obligations of Belgium.” โฃHe continued, “These are small steps in theโข right direction, wich must be materialized quickly. They are notโ enough โto put an end to โฃthe complicity of โฃour countryโ in the genocide. โคInโข addition, Belgium must demand that the โEuropean Union imposeโฃ sanctions against israel.”
Theโ demonstrators called for the swift and complete implementation โฃof measures announced byโฃ the โคArizona โcoalition on โขSeptemberโข 2nd, aimed atโค ending โIsrael’s impunity.Mauzรฉ emphasized the impact of citizen pressure,saying,”Pressure from citizens and โcivil society has finally madeโค it possible โto move โthe lines andโข forced โthe government to getโฃ out of โits guilty wait-and-see waitability,butโ the measures announced are still far from responding to our obligations โฃwith regard to international โlaw.”
Beitna, the โคPalestinian organization, added, “After almost two years ofโข genocide and 76 years of illegal Palestine occupation by โคIsrael, Belgium can no longer โhide behind empty promises. International andโ national law requires Belgium to end its complicity. Immediate sanctions andโค the termination of all Belgian and European โคagreementsโฃ with Israel are not a question of choice: they constitute a legal and moral obligation. The fact of not acting will irreversiblyโ tarnish the reputation and the concious of Belgium.”
(Belga – Photo : Belgaโค Image (archive 11/05/2025))
Report by Jamila โฃsaรฏdi m’redet, Olivia Bronsart, and Laurence Paciarelli.