A solidarity march for the people of Palestine is to take place in Brussels on Sunday, 26 January.
Its organisers are calling for a permanent ceasefire ‘"one year after the International Court of Justice recognised the danger of a genocide by the Israeli offensive in Gaza," they said on Thursday.
According to the organisers, the ceasefire, which was to take effect on 19 January, would offer a much-needed respite for the Palestinians, after 15 months of massacres and destruction. "However, the agreement does not put an end to genocide, international crimes, illegal occupation and colonisation of the Palestinian territories," they say.
The protesters are calling on the European Union and its Member States to address the situation in Gaza. "Taking initiatives to end the Israeli occupation is not only an international obligation but also a matter of life and death for the Palestinians," said Gregory Mauzé, spokesman for the Association belgo-palestinienne.
‘As Israel's largest trading partner, the EU must end its commercial, economic and strategic ties with Israel." the organisers of Sunday's protest say. "Ties must remain severed until Israel ends its oppression of the Palestinian people and complies with international law.
"That means suspending the EU-Israel association agreement. This is a legal obligation, confirmed by the International Court of Justice on 19 July 2024, and ratified by the vote of the United Nations General Assembly on 18 September 2024," they add.
The protesters are also demanding the imposition of an international military embargo against Israel. They also ask the Belgian authorities to enforce the international arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli leaders.
The march will start at the North Station in Schaerbeek and end at 4.00 p.m. at the South Station. Speeches and performances will take place at the end point of the march.
