Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Around 600 people gathered at Ghent’s VIERNULVIER Arts Centre to support Gaza. Speakers included Katrien De Ruysscher, Henri Heimans, Ludo De Brabander, and Alain Platel, urging urgent political action.
As VRT News reported, around 600 people came together at the VIERNULVIER Arts Centre in Ghent to show support for Gaza. The event was organised by actress Katrien De Ruysscher, Dr. Judith from the organisation ‘This’, and filmmaker Dominique Willaert.
A wide range of people were there, including artists, trade union members, social activists, and concerned citizens. They all wanted to see an end to the violence and famine in Gaza. The organisers spoke out against the lack of action from the international community, saying they were frustrated by the daily images of suffering.
De Ruysscher explained that many people feel helpless watching these events and that the purpose of the gathering was to break the silence and push leaders to do something. The evening was both a protest and a way for people to collectively call for justice and humanitarian aid in the region.
“The action came from a sense of powerlessness and urgency.”
Actress Katrien De Russcher
Why did artists and activists unite for Gaza in Ghent?
Former magistrate Henri Heimans spoke. He was part of a group with Jewish roots. Heimans said that being Jewish doesn’t mean you support the war or the Israeli government’s actions. He urged leaders to stop what he called war crimes.
He mentioned that Jewish people have different views and that it’s a moral duty to speak out against the violence in Gaza. They also demanded that humanitarian aid be allowed into Gaza to help the people there.
“The action came from a sense of powerlessness, of urgency. We all feel that action has to be taken. We asked people to come on stage and say something, to read a poem, or to show a video message,”
says Actress Katrien De Russcher.
One of the speakers was Ludo De Brabander, who works for peace. He said it has been 19 months since the attacks of October 7. He made it clear that it’s time to stop just watching and start acting.
De Brabander criticised politicians for not doing enough. He described the situation in Gaza as being like fascism. He said politicians can’t just stand by and do nothing. Officials mentioned that the main goal of the event was to send a strong message to political leaders. The message was that they can’t stay silent anymore and must take action.
“It is shameful that a people is starving, I am ashamed and outraged.”
Peace activist Ludo De Brabander
Alain Platel, a famous director, talked about his experiences in the occupied territories. He said he felt “paralysed” by the situation. He didn’t even want to come to the event, but felt he had to speak up.
Ann Vermogen from the ACV trade union also spoke. She said many union members believe it’s wrong to stay silent about injustice. She spoke against using hunger as a weapon and demanded that the Belgian government take a strong stand, including stopping cooperation with Israel.
“Hunger as a weapon of war is inhumane, it must stop”
Ann Vermogen of ACV
Johan Depoortere, a former journalist, called the suffering in Gaza “sickening.” He urged everyone to push the government to act. Each speaker, whether an activist, artist, union leader, or journalist, expressed their anger and the urgent need for political and humanitarian help in Gaza.
Actor Daan Hugaert said,
“It doesn’t stop, it has to stop. It is a situation that the West itself caused a long time ago, and these are the consequences now. The killing just keeps going and going, it has to stop.”
