People take part in demonstration near the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, capital of Belgium on October 22, 2023.   --Photo Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe

A large demonstration in Brussels calls for ceasefire in Gaza

BRUSSELS (Xinhua) -- A large demonstration rallied on Sunday afternoon in Brussels, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaze Strip.
According to police, more than 12,000 people from over 34 associations and organisations participated in the marching and rally, supporting innocent Palestinians who have suffered the conflicts between Israel and Hamas (the Gaza-ruling Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement) for two weeks.
With a heavy guard of local police along the route of the demonstration, many demonstrators stayed for over two hours at the Schuman roundabout in front of the European Commission headquarters. Some of them also accused the European Union of its acquiescence to Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
Many of them called for respect for the rights of all people in accordance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
“Free, Free Palestine!” “Stop the genocide!” “Freedom and justice for Palestine now!” These slogans were chanted by demonstrators, and written on banners and cardboard.
Amine Tahiri, representing a young people’s association known as The Ambassadors of Citizen Expression, stressed the importance of defending human rights. He has recently traveled to Gaza, where he met young students. He condemned the injustice suffered by the Palestinian people.
“We must denounce the regime of apartheid and genocide because the lives of millions of people are threatened in Gaza,” he said.
The associations and organisations also demand that Israel should lift the siege on Gaza and let the region reconnect with the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory.
On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel.
Afterward, the Israeli army carried out massive airstrikes and imposed a complete siege upon the Palestinian enclave, with supplies of water, electricity, fuel, and other necessities to the area being cut off.
So far, the conflict has killed at least 1,400 people in Israel, according to figures released by Israel’s military. The death toll of Palestinians from Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip has risen to 4,651, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry on Sunday.

(Latest Update October 23, 2023)