Some 50 civil society associations, trade unions and NGOs will be holding a demonstration in Brussels on Sunday 22 October in solidarity with the people in Gaza, they announced on Thursday.
The coalition is calling for an immediate ceasefire and respect for international law.
The action will take place at 14:00 at the Schuman roundabout, in front of the European Commission headquarters, in the presence of the Belgo-Palestinian association, CIRé, CNCD-11.11.11, Mouvement Ouvrier Chrétien (MOC), Vie Féminine, FGTB and CSC.
"We unequivocally condemn all attacks against civilian populations, including those perpetrated by Hamas since 7 October against Israeli civilians, which have resulted in hundreds of deaths. However, no attack suffered can justify disregarding the laws of war," the signatories stated.
They call on Belgium and the EU to do their utmost to obtain "a ceasefire, the protection of all civilian populations, and access to international aid for the Gazan population." At the same time, they urged respect for the rights of all, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Mass turnout expected
Organisers expect some 10,000 participants in the centre of Brussels on Sunday and implore all attendees to demonstrate "peacefully", despite the fact that several demonstrations of this type have already been marred by violence and hate speech.
When questioned on the city's plans to police the event, Brussels Mayor Philippe Close stated: "Our approach to demonstrations is negotiating the management of public space. There will be more pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrations in the capital. No value judgments here."
"Any apology for war crimes, attacks on civilians, or any manifestation of anti-Semitism or any other form of racism will result in exclusion from the rally," the organisers assured.
More than 4,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza according to the latest count by the health ministry in Gaza since Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October. The Israeli death toll from the attack stands at some 1,400 people, most of them civilians. More than 200 were also taken as hostages by Hamas to Gaza.
The Belgian police has informed the European institutions that the demonstration in support for Palestine will take place from 12:00 to 18:00 on Sunday.
Demonstrators are expected to walk from Place Schuman and back, via Rue Froissart – Rue Justus Lipsius – Place Jean Rey - Rue Belliard – Joyeuse Entrée – Petite Rue de la Loi. The demonstration will have a considerable size and might have spillovers.
As a measure of precaution, it has been decided to exceptionally close the Parlamentarium and the House of European History on Sunday. As traffic will be seriously disrupted, it is advised to avoid the European Quarter.
