On Thursday, the French Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, officially declared a comprehensive prohibition on pro-Palestinian demonstrations in France, citing the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel. In a document initially observed by AFP and subsequently covered by various French media outlets, Darmanin issued “stringent directives” to prohibit “pro-Palestinian demonstrations due to their potential to incite public order disruptions.”
“The organization of these prohibited demonstrations should lead to arrests. Arrests of organizers and troublemakers will be made in the future.” Darmanin said.
More than 100 antisemitic incidents have been reported in France since the surprise attack by Hamas in Israel, which resulted in hundreds of casualties and provoked Israeli retaliatory strikes. This led to a “complete siege” on over 2 million people in Gaza.
Following death threats against National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet, her residence was placed under heightened police protection.
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to address the ongoing conflict in a scheduled speech at 8 p.m. on Thursday.
In Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has also adopted a “zero tolerance” stance on antisemitism and banned all Hamas-related activities in response to some individuals celebrating the militant group’s attack on Israel last weekend.
By Thursday, the series of Hamas attacks had resulted in over 1,200 civilian casualties in Israel. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, the death toll reached 1,400 people, including 447 children. The Israeli military recorded nearly 170 fatalities among its personnel, and on Tuesday, they asserted the presence of 1,500 bodies of Hamas combatants within their territory.
(Source: Laura Hulsemann | Politico | AFP | The Local FR)
