The Paris police chief, Laurent Nuñez, announced this Thursday that he would ban the demonstration planned for Saturday at the call of several organizations “in support of the Palestinian people”.
“It is not a static demonstration, it is a stroll through Paris, always much more risky,” argued the prefect on France Info.
Scheduled for Saturday from Châtelet
“And the organizations which submitted this declaration by the comments they were able to make could suggest that they were still in support of Hamas, and therefore I will ban this demonstration,” he announced.
The Urgence Palestine collective, bringing together several associations, unions and political organizations, called for “a major demonstration of support for the Palestinian people”, Saturday at 2:30 p.m. “departing from Châtelet”, according to their website.
“Not a question of maintaining order”
On October 18, the Council of State reminded the government that pro-Palestinian demonstrations could not be systematically banned and that it was up to the prefects alone to assess whether there was a local risk of disturbances to public order. .
“It is not a question of maintaining order (…), the criterion is rather immaterial,” argued Laurent Nuñez. “The disturbance of public order can be immaterial. The mere fact that we can make negationist, anti-Semitic or support for terrorism comments is a problem for us, that’s what justifies these bans,” he declared, citing organizations like the Front for the liberation of Palestine in France and the NPA (New Anti-Capitalist Party).
189 anti-Semitic attacks were recorded in Paris
Last Thursday, a pro-Palestinian rally was held at Place de la République in Paris, bringing together 15,000 people according to the police headquarters, which made 10 arrests, notably for anti-Semitic remarks and tags on the statue of the Republic.
“I had not banned it because in the declaration there was a clear condemnation of these actions (of Hamas, Editor’s note),” said Laurent Nuñez, ensuring that he examines each demonstration declaration “on a case by case” basis.
According to the police prefect, 189 anti-Semitic attacks have been recorded in Paris since October 7, giving rise to 73 arrests, 50 police custody and the placement in administrative detention of 25 illegal foreigners.
6,546 Palestinians killed according to Hamas
On October 7, Hamas commandos infiltrated southern Israel from the Gaza Strip, carrying out a bloody attack against civilians. In retaliation, Israel declared a war to “annihilate” Hamas, relentlessly shelling the Gaza Strip.
According to Israeli authorities, the Hamas attack killed more than 1,400 people in Israel and more than 200 were kidnapped. According to the Hamas Ministry of Health, more than 6,546 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed since the incessant bombardments began.