Brussels witnessed a significant gathering on Saturday as more than 20,000 individuals marched through the city in solidarity with Palestinians.
The peaceful demonstration, held on Armistice Day, aimed to voice concerns over the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where Israel has been conducting extensive bombardments. Protesters passionately chanted slogans such as “free Palestine” and “stop the genocide.”
During the two-hour march, participants also expressed dissatisfaction with perceived bias from the European Union towards Israel at the expense of Palestinian lives and rights. Shouts of “EU, shame on you” echoed through the crowd. Brussels police, estimating the turnout at 21,000, closely monitored the event, resulting in road closures to ensure public safety.
The demonstration marked one of several pro-Palestinian gatherings in Brussels this month, triggered by Israel’s military response to an October 7 attack by the Islamist militant group Hamas. The ongoing conflict has claimed numerous lives, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting over 11,000 casualties in Gaza due to the Israeli air and ground campaign.
Rima Fayad, a 31-year-old orthodontist and demonstrator, conveyed the collective plea for a ceasefire in Palestine, stating, “We are here today to ask the world for a ceasefire in Palestine.” Another participant, a 26-year-old supermarket employee named Kim, emphasized the protest’s focus on condemning what she described as Israel’s genocide and called for an end to the violence.
As the global community watches developments in the region, the Brussels rally underscored the urgency felt by many in calling for a resolution to the conflict and an end to the loss of life in the Palestinian territories.
