More than 20,000 people take part in a pro-Palestinian march in Brussels

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – About 21,000 people participated in a pro-Palestinian march in Brussels on Saturday, many of them chanting slogans such as “Free Palestine” and calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as they marched peacefully through Brussels, police said. city.

“What is happening now in Gaza is more than just destruction,” said one demonstrator, holding a sign reading “Ceasefire Now!” In Dutch.

Other demonstrators carried posters reading “Stop genocide” or “Human rights for Palestinians” or demanded the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for what they described as war crimes.

Another protester said: “It is important that our voice is heard, and we cannot accept that people are being bombed and killed.”

Since the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, there has been strong support and sympathy for Israel on the part of Western governments and many citizens.

But the Israeli military response also sparked anger, as protests took place in cities around the world to demand a ceasefire.

In London, more than 100,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets on Saturday. In Paris, several thousand demonstrators, including some left-wing lawmakers, marched carrying Palestinian flags and banners to demand a ceasefire in Gaza.

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