Mechelen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Around 1,000 people gathered at Mechelen’s Grote Markt on Thursday, Aug 14, 2025, to protest Gaza violence. Mayor Bart Somers, residents like Gert, Wim, and Hilde highlighted humanitarian concerns and called for global attention.
According to VRT News, on Thursday night, Aug 14, 2025, some thousand citizens marched to the Grote Markt in Mechelen to demonstrate against the violence in Gaza. Mechelen city council initiated the plan, and the protest started with a moment of silence for the victims of the war.
Mayor Bart Somers addressed the crowd, declaring,
“We are here to demonstrate our solidarity with the people of Gaza, who endure unbearably each day.”
Residents came together to express concern and compassion for those living under constant threat, highlighting the urgent need for attention to the human impact of the conflict.
Why did 1,000 people gather in Mechelen to protest Gaza violence?
Somers also spoke about international law and human dignity during his address. He stated that a country has a right to self-defence when declaring war, but it is this right is constrained by international law. He said that the use of force must not endanger civilians or violate human rights. To violate these principles, he said, is an act of arrogance and an act of inhumanity.
Somers criticised the violence in Gaza and said that human dignity is being destroyed. He also added that Israel, while defending itself, is damaging its own moral and ethical standing, saying it is “smashing its windows.”
“We want to do something because the madness has to stop.”
Wim from Mechelen
The crowd included residents from different parts of the city, all united by concern over the ongoing violence. Among them was Gert, a resident, who told reporters,
“We must support the people in Gaza. This goes beyond political opinions. When such injustice is done, you must make your voice heard.”
Other participants shared similar motivations. Wim and Hilde, a couple from the area, said they joined the gathering because they wanted to act against the violence.
“We want to do something because this madness has to stop,”
They said. They reiterated hope that people across Europe and the world would organise analogous demonstrations that could contribute to a real change in the world.
Other solidarity events have occurred in Belgium and elsewhere in Europe over periods of heightened conflict in Gaza. In July 2014, during the Gaza war, large crowds gathered in cities like Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent to protest the violence and show support for Palestinian civilians.
These events often included speeches, moments of silence, and calls for international action to protect human rights. Such demonstrations are part of a broader pattern of public response whenever major escalations occur in the region, reflecting ongoing concern among European citizens over humanitarian crises in Gaza.
