Thousands gathered in Brussels for a protest march against Israeli violence in the Gaza Strip.
The “Red Line For Gaza” demonstration on June 15 brought together ordinary citizens, trade unions, youth organisations, cultural centres and numerous civil society associations.
The event was organised by 11.11.11 NGO, a Belgian umbrella organisation for international solidarity.
Prior to the demonstration, the organisers declared the march was “against ethnic cleansing, against hunger used as a weapon and murder as a policy, against the killing of children, the bombing of neighbourhoods, the destruction of a people and the shameless impunity for war crimes. Against the cynicism of Israeli war crimes”.
The protest was held as part of ongoing global mobilisations advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza and sanctions against Israel.
More than 75,000 marched in Brussels while some 150,000 people participated in another event in the Hague on the same day, according to organisers.
In France on June 14, thousands of others joined a similar protest.
The NGO also said the demonstrations were designed to criticise what it called the lack of political will, particularly at the European level, regarding the situation in Palestine.
“The European Union and its members are failing to match their statements with decisive policy measures,” it said.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof reacted to the protests saying: “To all those people in The Hague I say: We see you and we hear you. In the end, our goal is the same: to end the suffering in Gaza as soon as possible.
“The Netherlands continues to work towards stopping the violence and ending the humanitarian blockade.
“We are constantly assessing how we can be most effective with our efforts, both in public and behind the scenes, to improve the situation on the ground,” he said.
Pressure was growing on European governments to reassess their relationships with Israel and to pursue policy options, including sanctions, to help bring about a ceasefire in he region.
