The French Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, has decided to ban all pro-Palestinian demonstrations, citing the potential for “disrupting public order.” The minister has stated that anyone organizing these banned protests or inciting riots will be arrested.
In Paris, the Administrative Court upheld the ban on a pro-Palestinian demonstration that was scheduled to take place in Republic Square in the French capital. This decision came six days after Hamas’s attack on Israel.
The court cited the confirmed risks of violence being imported onto French soil, given the resurgence of “anti-Semitic acts” since the attack.
Yesterday, the Paris Police Chief, Laurent Nuñez, ordered the banning of two pro-Palestinian demonstrations scheduled for Thursday in the French capital. The police explained that this ban was imposed “due to the risks of disrupting public order.” The protests were initially planned to take place at 6 p.m. in Republic Square in Paris.
Two organizations, the “National Gathering for a Just and Lasting Peace in Palestine” and the “French-Palestinian Solidarity Association,” called for an end to the blockade imposed by the Israeli government on Gaza.
In contrast, thousands of people took part in marches organized by the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF) in the heart of the French capital on Monday. Several ministers and political figures participated in the event, including former President Nicolas Sarkozy and Yaël Braun-Pivet, the President of the French National Assembly. This march aimed to show solidarity with Israel following Hamas’s attack.
The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France had called on “all friends of Israel” to join this “solidarity march” in Paris, which was also joined by several other associations.
France has taken a decisive step by banning all pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the country. The Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, invoked concerns about public order disruption as the primary reason for this move. The decision comes in the wake of increased tensions and incidents of anti-Semitic acts following Hamas’s attack on Israel.
The French Administrative Court upheld the ban on a specific pro-Palestinian demonstration in Paris, scheduled to be held in Republic Square. The court cited confirmed risks of violence and anti-Semitism associated with the protest as reasons for the decision.
In a contrasting move, a large solidarity march in support of Israel took place in Paris, organized by the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF). The event attracted significant attention, with prominent political figures such as former President Nicolas Sarkozy and Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the French National Assembly, participating. This march aimed to express solidarity with Israel following the recent hostilities.
The ban on pro-Palestinian demonstrations in France underscores the government’s commitment to maintaining public order and stability while navigating the sensitive issues surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It also highlights the challenges of balancing freedom of expression with security concerns in the face of escalating tensions.
