France bans all pro-Palestinian demonstrations

BBC News:

The French government has banned pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin warned that foreign nationals who break the rules would be “systematically” deported, while President Emmanuel Macron called for unity.

The move comes as European governments fear a rise in antisemitism triggered by the Israel-Hamas war.

Despite the ban, a large crowd of pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested in Paris on Thursday.

Police made 10 arrests and used water cannon to disperse the 3,000-strong rally at Place de la République, where demonstrators chanted “Israel murderer” and “Palestine will win” and waved Palestinian flags.

Mr Darmanin, who ordered the ban, said those who defy it should be arrested “because they are susceptible to disrupt public order.”

But Pro-Palestinian groups said it risked threatening freedom of expression and pledged to continue demonstrating in support of the Palestinian people.

Charlotte Vautier, who attended the rally, told Reuters News Agency: “We live in a country of civil law, a country where we have the right to take a stand and to demonstrate.

“[It is unfair] to forbid for one side and to authorise for the other.”

Meanwhile, police in Germany’s capital Berlin have also banned planned pro-Palestinian demonstrations, citing the risk of antisemitic statements and glorification of violence.

Police said around 60 demonstrators complied with an order to leave Potsdamer Platz on Thursday.

In a video address, President Macron urged the French people to stay united, saying “let’s not add national divisions to international divisions”.

He described Hamas as “a terrorist organisation that wants the death of the people of Israel”.

Some 13 French citizens have been confirmed dead in Hamas’ attack on Israel on Saturday.

President Macron said 17 French nationals were missing and were likely among the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, adding: “France is doing everything it can alongside Israel and our partners to bring them home”.

Four children are among the missing.

Israel, he said, had the right to defend itself by eliminating terrorists, but “has to preserve civilian lives because it’s the duty of democracies”.

“The only response to terrorism is one that is strong but fair,” he said.

France has a Jewish community of almost 500,000, the largest in Europe. France’s Muslim community is also among Europe’s largest – an estimated five million.