Police broke up a pro-Palestinian protest outside the embassy of the United States in Brussels on Friday evening.
The protest – which was initially peaceful – was permitted until 18:00. However, some demonstrators chose to stay on Rue de la Loi. As tensions rose, at least 40 arrests were made, primarily for the purpose of identification, according to Brussels Capital/Ixelles police zone. Police estimate that around 500 individuals were in attendance.
By 19:30, the police requested that those present vacate the area, however, a few endeavoured to create an unplanned protest or "wild demonstration." At 20:00, intervention was required to disband the protest, with some persisting near the entrance of Arts-Loi Metro station.
Credit: Belga / Timon Ramboer
"Given their lack of regard for our instructions, we had to step in," the police zone explained. "The protesters will face local administrative penalties for ignoring our request."
Despite the arrests, police reported that the demonstration continued largely without incident.
The protest, organised by several groups, including the Belgian-Palestinian Association (ABP) and Intal, assembled in front of the US embassy in Brussels to condemn what they referred to as the United States' "complicity" in the massacres committed by Israel in Gaza since 7 October.
'Most important supporter of Israel'
"The United States is the most important supporter of Israel which, since its foundation, has benefitted – in addition to supplies of sophisticated weapons – from financial, economic and political support as well as total coverage within international institutions," the ABP told Belga News Agency.
The association deplores the "systematic" use of the US veto, which it says has prevented the sanctioning of Israel's "criminal" policy for several decades.
Last April, the United States vetoed Palestine's full membership to the UN during a vote in the Security Council. According to the demonstrators, it is "high time" to denounce US policy and its "total" support for Israel.
"We chose to demonstrate in front of the American embassy because the key to ending this conflict lies in the United States," underscored ABP member Grégory Mauzé.
