Thousands gather in Paris to protest despite the ban on pro-Palestinian demonstrations

News2023.10.18. 09:00

French police used teargas and water cannons to break up a banned pro-Palestinian protest in Paris.

Several hundred demonstrators gathered at Place de la République in central Paris on Thursday, 12 October, to support Palestinians and against the Israeli government despite the ban on pro-Palestinian protests.

Macron’s interior minister Gerald Darmanin had earlier banned pro-Palestinian protests, saying they were „likely to generate disturbances to public order”, but demonstrators in Paris on Thursday defended their right to protest, claiming that in a country of civil law, people have the right to take a stand and to demonstrate.

Protesters waved the Palestinian flag and chanted, „Palestine will win”, „Israel murderer”, and „Macron accomplice”. Macron has previously condemned the 7 October terror attack by Hamas and voiced solidarity with Israel.

In a televised address on Thursday evening, Macron said, „Those who confuse the Palestinian cause with the justification of terrorism are making a moral, political and strategic mistake.” President Emmanuel Macron urged the French to remain united and refrain from bringing the Israel-Hamas conflict home.

France’s leader reassured that the government had boosted police protection of Jewish sites, including schools and synagogues, and that there could be no justification for terrorism and hate crime.