Tel Aviv Tribune Net correspondents
Paris- Thousands of demonstrators in support of the Palestinian cause gathered in Saint-Augustin Square in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. To condemn the massacre committed by the occupation forces in the displaced persons camp in Rafah.
The protest march – authorized by the police – was expected to reach the Israeli embassy, but security personnel and riot control vehicles closed all roads surrounding the square to prevent the demonstrators from crossing, using tear gas to disperse them until late Monday evening.
The candidate of the “Proud France” party in the European elections and the lawyer of Palestinian origins, Rima Hassan, called for organizing this protest, supported by a large number of pro-Palestine associations and other French representatives.
Illegal strikes
A number of representatives from the “Proud France” party joined the huge crowds, including Representative David Guiraud, who confirmed his warning to his government several times about the genocide taking place in Gaza, saying, “Israel has continued to carry out its strikes and has reached the point of targeting the tents of the displaced in Rafah. Then we saw that the Israeli Prime Minister came out to describe what happened as a tragic accident, but we know that this is not the case.”
He added – in an interview with Tel Aviv Tribune Net – that “these strikes are illegal because the International Court of Justice ordered a ceasefire in the south of the Gaza Strip. I believe that the people of the world today are in solidarity with the Palestinian people, which will enable more and more pressure on governments to force them to take the necessary measures to put an end to the genocide.” “and put all those responsible behind bars.”
For his part, his party colleague Carlos Martinez Belungo explained that the reason for choosing to go to the Israeli embassy after more than 7 months of this conflict “comes as a result of the heinous massacre that everyone saw in Rafah, and they wanted to do something symbolic and strong at the same time to say that we are tired of The absence of justice for the Palestinian people.”
He continued, in an interview with Tel Aviv Tribune Net, “The French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Stephane Ségournet, met with Israeli ministers this week in Paris, where he gave weak speeches that are not based on facts, indicating that France condemns and requests a ceasefire, but it is clear that our government continues to be reckless and complicit.” Just”.
It is noteworthy that the Israeli embassy is located near the Elysee Palace and the embassies of the United States and the United Kingdom. Security forces have deployed extensively in this place since the demonstration was announced.
Rafah password
Less than one kilometer from the Israeli embassy building, demonstrators chanted the slogans “We are all children of Gaza,” “Free Gaza,” “Macron is complicit,” and “All eyes on Rafah,” raising Palestinian flags and banners reading, “Netanyahu and Biden are war criminals.” “Hell of Israel.”
French demonstrator Mariana said that the images of the black night that Rafah witnessed were the main reason that made her participate in the protest march, noting that there are a large number of younger generations and university students who chose the right side of history through their support for Palestine.
For his part, François Riep, Vice President of the French Solidarity Association with Palestine – which participated in organizing the demonstration – confirmed that the only solution available to the French people is to demonstrate, because – according to what he told Tel Aviv Tribune Net – they saw “in audio and video how the Israeli army burned Palestinians alive in a camp.” Refugees, the only place they claimed was safe.”
Tel Aviv Tribune Net also met with Zuhair Lahna, an obstetrician and gynecologist who returned from Rafah days before the bombing, where he expressed his regret and shock at the scenes of the burning of the camp, saying, “The place that was targeted in Rafah I know well because I used to work in the Emirati hospital located west of the city.”
He added, “I have not been able to sleep since last night because of the sight of charred bodies and Palestinians who lost everything they own,” stressing the difficulty of reaching Al-Najjar Governmental Hospital and the European Hospital because the road leading to them is cut off by the Israeli occupation army.
Through his medical experience, Hana expects that the wounded who were burned will not be able to survive due to the difficulty of treating this type of injury.