Pro-Palestinian demonstrators stage rally in Paris calling for Gaza cease-fire

By Esra Taskin

PARIS (AA) - Protestors gathered in Paris on Thursday to express solidarity with Palestine and to demand an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

The protest, organized by members of the left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI) party, saw the participation of prominent members of parliament including Thomas Portes, Carlos Martens Bilongo, Ersilia Soudais and Andree Taurinya.

The crowd, waving Palestinian flags and holding placards with various messages, called for an end to the conflict in Gaza.

Banners reading "Stop the massacre in Gaza" and "Secure a cease-fire in Gaza" were held high, reflecting the demonstrators' urgent plea for peace.

Images were prominently displayed of Palestinians who lost their lives in Gaza, including teachers and children and aspiring doctors. The protesters aimed to humanize the toll of the conflict, emphasizing that these casualties were not mere statistics.

One of the key demands expressed by the demonstrators was the lifting of the Israeli blockade of Gaza, a point highlighted on numerous signs throughout the protest.

Addressing the crowd, Portes expressed disappointment with President Emmanuel Macron's delayed call for a "cease-fire."

He pointed out that during the month-long wait for such a declaration, Israeli bombardments continued, resulting in the loss of Palestinian lives. He called for swifter action and a more proactive stance in addressing the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.

Israel launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip following a cross border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has soared to 14,854, the government media office in the blockaded enclave said Thursday.

The victims include 6,150 children and over 4,000 women, while more than 36,000 people have been injured, it said.

Around 7,000 people remain unaccounted for, including more than 4,700 children, it added.

The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.

The Israeli attacks have also destroyed 88 mosques and partly damaged 174 others, while three churches were targeted.