Tens of thousands in Paris protest, demand end to Israeli attacks on Gaza

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 1, 2024: Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters held a demonstration on Saturday, in Paris, the capital of France, calling for an end to Israel's attacks on Gaza. Despite heavy rain, demonstrators gathered at the famous Place de la République and marched towards Place de la Nation. The demonstrators demanded an end to Israel's months-long attacks on Gaza. They chanted slogans such as "Israel, get lost, Palestine is not yours," "Israel is a murderer, (French President Emmanuel) Macron is an accomplice," "We are all the children of Gaza," and "From Gaza to Noumea, we don't want colonizers." Some protesters climbed onto the roof of a building to wave the Palestinian flag, and one demonstrator climbed onto a car to attach a Palestinian flag to the vehicle. The police intervened with tear gas against the demonstrators. Mbaye, a protester who came to the demonstration with his children, said to Anadolu that the events in Gaza and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) cannot be ignored. - "There is a double standard here, and it is not normal" Mbaye expressed that the 15-day suspension given to Sebastien Delogu, a Member of Parliament from the Unsubmissive France (LFI) Party, for displaying the Palestinian flag during a parliamentary session was excessive. Mbaye pointed out that if Israeli athletes are allowed to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the same opportunity should also be extended to other athletes. He stated, "If the Russians were punished, why shouldn't the Israelis be punished too? There is a double standard here, and this is not normal." - "Genocide is happening" Anais, a 20-year-old protester, said that the events in the region did not start on October 7, 2023, but have been ongoing for a century. (Writing by Berkay Gur - Footage by Esra Taşkın/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)