Thousands of demonstrators across Europe took to the streets over the weekend to demand a boycott of Israeli products and sanctions in response to the ongoing devastation in Gaza. In Paris, crowds gathered at Luxembourg station at the call of the EuroPalestine collective, expressing solidarity with the besieged population and condemning what they described as the “complicit silence” of Western powers. Families with children carried placards reading “Stop Genocide”, “Gaza Under Bombs”, and “Complicity in Silence”.

Similar demonstrations unfolded in Vienna and London, where participants staged sit-ins in front of shops and marched to government buildings, chanting “Freedom for Palestine” and calling for urgent punitive measures against Israel. Protesters highlighted the failure of international institutions to act, demanding an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access. Organisers vowed to maintain pressure “as long as the bombings persist and the blockade remains in place”.

This surge of public outrage is beginning to influence European politics. Following France’s recent recognition of Palestine, the United Kingdom is preparing to officially acknowledge an independent Palestinian state, reflecting mounting global pressure in response to Israel’s systematic attacks. Demonstrators emphasised that European governments must act decisively to uphold international law and protect Palestinian civilians.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues unabated. Since October 2023, over 65,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have been killed, with countless others injured, displaced, or starving under the blockade. Despite rulings from the International Court of Justice ordering Israel to prevent acts of genocide and allow humanitarian aid, and arrest warrants issued against senior Israeli officials for war crimes, the enclave faces relentless bombardment.

Protesters across Europe insist that solidarity and political pressure are essential to challenge this ongoing catastrophe and demand accountability.