Thousands of people marched from Brussels-North station through the city centre on Sunday to demand a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The procession set off from Brussels-North at 14:00 and crossed through the city centre, arriving at Brussels-Midi station at around 16:00.
Police say there were 7,000 participants while organisers said 13,000 people took part.
Protesters chanted "free, free Palestine" and carried Palestinian flags and black placards bearing the names of victims from the conflict in the Middle East.
People gather for a demonstration for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, Sunday 26 January 2025 in Brussels. Credit: Belga / Gaelle Ponselet
Organisers of this eighth march in support of Palestinian rights argue that the ceasefire, which came into effect on 19 January, offers Palestinians in Gaza a much-needed respite after more than 15 months of war, but it is not enough.
The demonstration was organised by a coalition of around 60 action groups, including the Belgian-Palestinian Association, Beitna Palestinian Collective, CNCD-11.11.11 and 11.11.11, FGTB, Solidaris, CSC, the Christian Workers' Movement, and the Union of Progressive Jews in Belgium (UPJB).
"[The current ceasefire] does not end the genocide nor the other international crimes committed by Israel, such as apartheid, illegal occupation, and colonisation of Palestinian territory," stated Dima Daibes, spokesperson for the Beitna Collective. "The oppression and destruction of the Palestinian people will continue as long as Israeli authorities remain unpunished," she added.
"Initiatives to end the Israeli occupation are not just a matter of life and death for Palestinians, but also an international obligation, confirmed by the International Court of Justice on 19 July and endorsed by the UN General Assembly vote on 18 September," noted Grégory Mauzé, spokesperson for the Belgian-Palestinian Association.
"As Israel's primary trade partner, the EU must cease its commercial, economic, and strategic ties with the state until it ends the oppression of the Palestinian people and complies with international law."
People gather for a demonstration for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and a solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Sunday 26 January 2025 in Brussels. Credit: Belga / Gaelle Ponselet
On 19 January, a ceasefire-hostage agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas, mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar, which included the release of Israeli hostages and convicted Palestinian prisoners.
The war between Israel and Hamas, an EU designated terrorist organisation, began on 7 October 2023, when hundreds of Hamas fighters stormed Israel's southern border, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking over 250 Israeli hostages back to Gaza. Israel's subsequent 15-month military offensive in the Gaza Strip has led to at least 47,283 deaths, mostly civilians, according to Hamas' Ministry of Health. The ministry does not distinguish between Hamas militants and civilians.
This article was updated to include additional information at 10:35 on Monday 27 January 2025.
