The war between Hamas and Israel is still ongoing, with thousands of people gathering in Paris to show support for the Palestinian people. Initially, the protest was banned by the police prefecture, but it was later authorized from 7pm to 8pm.
Despite the ban, many individuals joined the protest, motivated by a sense of humanitarian duty or deep empathy for the Palestinian people. One woman, Friha, a Moroccan Jew, came with her daughter and raised a Palestinian flag, expressing her belief that it is her humanitarian duty to be there and that she cannot stand by while such a massacre occurs. She also voiced her hope that the Israeli apartheid will eventually fall, just like other racist and authoritarian regimes in the past.
Bénédicte and Marie, who had attended previous protests, expressed their frustration at the disproportional police presence, fearing that the situation could escalate. However, their intention was not to support Hamas, but rather to call for a ceasefire, peace, and support for innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.
The authorization of the protest came as a surprise, as the administrative court of Paris suspended the police prefect’s decision to ban the gathering from 7pm to 8pm. Nevertheless, some protesters criticized the fact that the protest was only allowed for one hour, considering it just as absurd as the initial decision to ban all pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
During the hour-long protest, the participants felt a sense of reclaiming their rights, chanting slogans and expressing unity with the Palestinian people. Some protesters even climbed on top of a statue in the middle of the square and tagged it with messages of support for Gaza and criticism of the complicity of the West in apartheid.
At precisely 8pm, the protest was once again banned, and the police quickly reestablished their presence. The atmosphere became tense, and anti-police slogans resurfaced.
