Tens of thousands protest in Brussels demanding a ceasefire in Palestine

Between 20,000 and 80,000 demonstrators gathered in Brussels on Sunday to call for a ceasefire in Palestine, according to estimates from police and organisers. The protest was organised by around 60 civil society groups and commenced with speeches on Boulevard Simon Bolivar (Gare du Nord) before marching towards Gare du Midi.

Key speakers included Franco-Palestinian lawyer Salah Hamouri, who stressed the importance of unity against fascism and condemned both the Israeli actions in Palestine and the rise of far-right movements in Europe. Demonstrators highlighted the ongoing suffering in Gaza by staging a “concert of pots and pans” to contrast with global silence.

The protest also marked the 77th anniversary of the Nakba, the displacement of Palestinians during Israel’s creation in 1948, which organisers argue continues through modern-day violence and displacement. 

^{© BELGA VIDEO LOU LAMPAERT}

Protesters called for a complete military embargo on Israel and urged Belgium to uphold international legal obligations, including banning trade with Israeli settlements.

Groups involved included the Belgian-Palestinian Association (APB), Amnesty International, the Union of Progressive Jews of Belgium (UPJB), and various trade unions.

^{People gather for a demonstration to demand a ceasefire © BELGA PHOTO HATIM KAGHAT}