Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The cat and mouse game continued in the streets of Brussels until late Wednesday evening between pro-Palestinian demonstrators who demonstrated in front of the Israeli embassy and the Belgian police. The police said that three people were administratively detained. According to local media, the spontaneous march began in front of the embassy. The demonstrators then fled through small streets towards neighboring areas. Then a large number headed towards the European Parliament in Luxembourg Square.
Police used pepper spray and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators. An ambulance was called for an injured person in Luxembourg Square.
“This was another illegal and unwanted demonstration,” Oakley Mayor Boris Delis said.
According to media reports, police again used tear gas and water cannons at the pro-Palestinian demonstration in front of the Israeli embassy in Ukel, a suburb of Brussels, at around 7:30 p.m. At least a thousand young people and students participated in the demonstration.
As happened on Tuesday evening, hundreds of students once again marched to the Israeli embassy on Wednesday to denounce Israeli violence in Palestine. The call was launched by students of the Free University of Brussels (ULB) and VUB after a female student was injured by a water cannon on Tuesday evening and therefore had to undergo surgery.
The students criticize that the Belgian government does not take sufficient measures to denounce Israeli violence in Palestine. The bombing that occurred in Rafah last weekend, in particular, sparked great anger among students and youth.
The students moved in front of the Israeli embassy on Wednesday evening and closed the intersection leading to it. At approximately 7:30 p.m., the police again used water cannons and fired tear gas canisters at the students to disperse them.
“We are here today because we believe it is shameful that one of our fellow students was transferred to the hospital yesterday after a peaceful demonstration against the genocide committed by Israel in Palestine,” said Ruaa, a member of the Palestine Solidarity Network at VUB University. “The police responded in a ridiculously aggressive manner, which is why we are here again.”