Solidarity with Gaza: Thousands protest for freedom in Paris!

Solidarity with Gaza: Thousands protest for freedom in Paris!

In Paris on October 4, people from around the world gathered to show solidarity with those suffering in Gaza and with participants in the Global Sumud flotilla. This flotilla, launched on August 31, aimed to establish a humanitarian corridor to Palestine. The protest took place despite cool weather in Republic and Bastille squares, where several thousand demonstrators carried Palestinian and communist flags. One activist expressed her wish for a higher number of participants in future actions.

On October 1, a dramatic incident occurred: the Israeli Navy illegally stopped the flotilla, which led to the arrest of over 400 activists, including Émilien Urbach of l’Humanité. This information was announced by Humanité. The French Foreign Ministry confirmed the mobilization of the embassy and consulate in Tel-Aviv to support the detained French people, amid reports of poor prison conditions, such as a lack of food and medicine.

Reaction to the interception action

The flotilla's final action, led by the boat Marinette, ended when it was stopped by Israeli naval forces on October 1 about 42.5 nautical miles off the coast of the Gaza Strip. This operation resulted in a total of 42 ships carrying volunteers and supplies being intercepted. After fending off attacks and drones, the flotilla was launched from Spain in September to break the blockade of Gaza and provide humanitarian assistance, according to Radio-Canada.

The interception was described as an illegal attack in international waters by Global Sumud, while Amnesty International criticized the action as intimidation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the naval forces for their professional execution of the mission, which took place during Yom Kippur. Protests against the interceptions broke out in several European countries and Mexico, with thousands of demonstrators taking to the streets.

International reactions and support protests

A protest in support of Émilien Urbach and the members of the flotilla is planned at l’Humanité headquarters on October 6th. Political, trade union and social organizations had already called a meeting on October 3rd at the Bourse du Travail in Paris. While support from international organizations such as the Italian and Spanish governments is growing, some participants in Israel have even started a hunger strike against their illegal detention.

The humanitarianism and large amounts of support mobilized around the world show that the issue remains strong in the public consciousness. The situation in Gaza remains critical, as evidenced by reports of 66,225 deaths since the offensive began following a Hamas attack on October 7. These frightening figures highlight the urgency of humanitarian aid and the need for international solidarity action.