From the Liveblog of
Sunday, September 8, 2024
French celebrities, far-left lawmakers join mass anti-Israel protest in central Paris
Thousands of people attend an anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian rally at Place de la Nation, in Paris, including lawmakers from the far-left New Popular Front (NFP) party.
French far-left leaders Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Jean-Francois Coulomme are among the attendees.
Installations at the protest accuse Israel and the US of killing babies and targeting journalists and aid workers as part of the ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza, while protesters in keffiyeh scarves wave Palestinian flags.
Israel denies targeting journalists and says it makes every effort to avoid harming civilians, blaming the death toll in Gaza on the fact that Hamas fights in densely populated urban areas and embeds itself deliberately among civilians who are used as human shields.
Flags of the far-left New Anticapitalist Party (NPA) are also prevalent at the event.
Several protesters are arrested as violent scuffles break out with police, according to posts and videos shared on social media.
The protest reportedly erupted after an anti-government protest against new French Prime Minister Michel Barnier.
At a counter-protest at nearby Place Colette, meanwhile, pro-Israel demonstrators hold signs with photos of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza since October 7.
Manifestation de soutien à Israel
Place Colette devant la comédie française à Paris
????????
Enfin du réconfort…
Depuis TLV ???????? ???????? pic.twitter.com/VRdSS5S3N0— Cathy AscMuf (@CathyAscen) September 8, 2024
