French authorities allow pro-Palestinian protesters to gather in Paris
Hundreds of people demonstrated in support of Palestinians in the French capital on Thursday evening as the rally got the green light from authorities after last week's ban.
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Demonstrators gathered at Place de la Republique in central Paris, waving the Palestinian flag and shouting "Free Gaza".
Social media postings showed people chanting "We are all Palestinians" as they marched through neighbouring streets.
Some shouted "Israel murderer, Macron accomplice", others held signs reading "We are not anti-Semitic".
🇫🇷 EN DIRECT - Des manifestants pro-palestiniens déambulent dans Paris aux cris de "Nous sommes tous des Palestiniens". (Clément Lanot - CL Press) pic.twitter.com/Q3uL52tpM1
— AlertesInfos (@AlertesInfos) October 19, 2023
The demonstration was heavily policed but unlike a previous, unauthorised demonstration on 12 October when 10 people were arrested, there were no reports of violence or arrests this time.
"We have to demonstrate for Palestinian civilians who are dying in Palestine, that's it," 62-year old Amid told Reuters news agency. "No matter the situation or the bomb which has killed 500 people in the hospital, it is a crime against humanity. Everyone knows that."
Thursday evening's protest was authorised at the last minute.
France's highest administrative court said on Wednesday that local authorities should evaluate protests on a case-by-case basis following a clamp-down by French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on pro-Palestinian protests last week, citing the risk of public disorder.
In a memo about one set of protests last week French intelligence services said it would attract "radical elements from the ultra-left, close to Islamist movements and young people from sensitive neighbourhoods".
France is home to Europe's largest Muslim and Jewish population.
(with Reuters)
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