Demonstration in Toulouse against Gaza war and ‘Western involvement': Video
A large demonstration took place in Toulouse, France, as protesters gathered to voice opposition to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, calling for an end to violence and denouncing Western powers' involvement.
Organised by the 'Palestine Vaincra' (Palestine will win) collective, the protest aimed to highlight what many see as genocide in Gaza and criticise France's strategic partnership with Israel.
Tom Martin, spokesman for the collective, expressed outrage over France’s political and military ties with Israel.
"We are denouncing the genocide in Gaza, but also the complicity of Western powers, especially France, which is a key economic, political, and military partner of Israel. This is scandalous," he told the AFP.
Martin also condemned the continued detention of Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, a pro-Palestinian activist who has been imprisoned in France for 40 years despite being eligible for release since 1999.
Among the protesters was Alberta Nur, a 24-year-old student who spoke out against the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
"The situation in Gaza is unbearable. It’s been nearly a year of genocide, and we’re here to call for an end to the bombings and to denounce France’s complicity," she said. Nur also criticised the suspension of a teacher in Toulouse who was penalised for speaking out in support of Palestine during class.
She added, “There's a teacher here in Toulouse who has been suspended for four months simply because he denounced the genocide in his class. So now we're here to say ‘stop the bombing of Gaza’, denounce France's complicity and demand an end to all sanctions against those who stand up for Palestine."
Holding up a large banner with the inscription “solidarity with the people of Palestine,” the protestors marched the streets of Toulouse, demanding an end to the violence in Gaza.
