Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Among the events planned for January 26, 2025, there is a march in Brussels with the principal goal – the support of the Palestinians. Organisers are calling for a permanent ceasefire, emphasising that this event marks “one year after the International Court of Justice recognised the danger of a genocide by the Israeli offensive in Gaza.”
As for the conflict’s putative ceasefire, scheduled for January 19, the organisers are taking breaks dear to the hearts of Palestinians who have lived through violence and destruction over the past 15 months. However, they say that this does not solve the real problems with genocide, international crime, and continued occupation of the Palestinian territories.
A solidarity march for Palestine has been planned for January 26, 2025, in Brussels with a call for a permanent ceasefire and for the European Union( EU) to withdraw diplomatic recognition of Israel until that state respects international law and withdraws its forces from occupied territories. The protest intends to make the EU and its member states act in regard to the situation in Gaza.
Gregory Mauzé, spokesman for the Association belgo-palestinienne, stated,
“Taking initiatives to end the Israeli occupation is not only an international obligation but also a matter of life and death for the Palestinians.”
The organisers go further and call on the EU, Israel’s single largest trading partner, to break all economic and security relations with the Jewish state until it fulfills international law. They demand that the EU suspend the agreement on cooperation with Israel as an associate member, of which the International Court of Justice has spoken.
The march will commence at North Station in Schaerbeek and conclude at South Station at 4:00 p.m. It would include people in the form of speeches and other performances at the endpoint. Protesters are also demanding an international military blockade of Israel and demanding that Belgian authorities detain Israeli officials who have warrants for their arrest by the International Criminal Court. It is part of a streak of multiple demonstrations held in Belgium in support of Palestinians in the past year.
The call has been spelled amidst increasing hostilities and a continued practice of aggression in Gaza that has elicited criticism from different arenas of human rights bodies. The march’s leaders – the proponents of Palestinian rights – make it clear that their demands stem from international legal standards. The call is to raise awareness of the Palestinian people among the general public, as well as to appeal to the local and global authorities.
What is the background of this movement?
The movement has particularly grown over the last few years due to increased violence between Israel and Palestinian groups in Belgium. Protests have been carried out by local communities and solidarity organisations that support Palestinians’ actions regarding their rights and abuses of alleged human rights. It’s common to highlight cases like illegal squatters, military operations against the population, and appeals for protecting the rights of people with the help of international law.
Over the past few months, Belgium has seen numerous protests demanding to stop what activists consider systemic discrimination against Palestinians. This rise of the protest could be attributed to the other rising solidarity movements across Europe, where the protesters are more assertive with their stand against perceived injustices. According to the activists, the problems are not only moral necessities but also logical imperatives for the end of conflicts in the region.
