In Brussels on Sunday, as in June, tens of thousands of people took to the streets to show their support for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and to protest against the Israeli government. It was the second edition of “Red Line for Gaza”.
Under the banner “Red Line for Gaza”, thousands of protesters marched through the streets of Brussels. They drew a red line to indicate that the violence in the Gaza Strip must stop immediately.
But the organisers of the demonstration also called on participants to bring a red card. They want to show to Israel and to all politicians (including Belgian ones) and others who enable war crimes against the Palestinians a red card (similar to like in a football match).
According to the organisers of NGO 11.11.11, at least 110,000 people took to the streets to express their support for the Palestinians.
The police estimate the number of demonstrators at around 70,000.
The second edition of “Red Line for Gaza” started from the Brussels North Station at 2 p.m. Demonstrators then marched via the Botanical Garden and Wetstraat to the Jean Reyplein, close to the European institutions. There the demonstration arrived around 4.30 p.m.
What do the protesters expect from Belgian governments?
The Gaza agreements of the federal and Flemish governments are not enough, say the protesters. So, what do they expect?
Firstly, a complete military embargo on all military cooperation and arms trade between Israel and Belgium. They also want a national ban on all investments or commercial, political, economic and diplomatic relations that contribute to the continuation of the illegal occupation.
‘The Belgian government must go beyond symbolism and back up its words with decisive and comprehensive measures,’ says the Palestinian collective Beitna.
The protesters also believe that Belgium should demand that the European Union impose sanctions on Israel.
Federal and Flemish Gaza agreements ‘not enough’
Earlier, the Belgian federal and Flemish governments both reached an agreement on how to deal with the war in the Gaza Strip and what measures to take against Israel.
Participants in the demonstration see these agreements as small steps in the right direction. ‘But they are still far from meeting all of Belgium's international obligations,’ says Ludo De Brabander of peace organisation Vrede vzw and the National Coalition for Gaza. They are not enough to end Belgium's complicity in the genocide in Gaza, De Brabander believes.