Protesters Flood Geneva Streets in Solidarity with Palestinians
The large-scale demonstration, branded the "Big Geneva Protest" and spearheaded by the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, originated at the English Garden alongside Lake Geneva before participants marched toward the UN Geneva Office, where the action reached its peak.
Under police supervision, crowds chanted "Free Palestine," "Palestine will be free from the river to the sea," "Israel to court," "Stop the war crimes," and "Boycott Israel" while hoisting Palestinian flags and displaying signs condemning Israel.
Participants championed Palestinian self-determination, insisting genuine peace remains impossible without "justice and decolonization." Demonstrators highlighted Palestinian human rights, pressed for criminal prosecution of illegal Israeli settler violence throughout the West Bank, and demanded an immediate end to what they characterized as Palestinian extermination.
Marchers also blasted Switzerland for perceived silence regarding conditions in Gaza, pressuring Bern to "end your military collaboration with Israel."
"Switzerland's silence is complicity," protesters declared.
Palestinians still 'have no say in' their future
Anne-Marie Costa, a Swiss-Spanish participant, told media that "genocide" persists despite ceasefire agreements, emphasizing governmental inaction.
"I am here because the situation in Gaza is obviously catastrophic. Not only does the genocide continue, but governments are doing nothing," Costa said.
"For two years, we have been seeing horrific images that keep us awake at night," she said, adding: "So it is only natural that we are here to denounce the crimes that humanity, the entire world, is committing at the government level."
Anais Antreasyan, a Swiss demonstrator and BDS Geneva movement organizer behind the protest, told media that Saturday's action was timed to honor the international solidarity commemoration.
"We are still in this situation where the Palestinian people have no say in how they want to govern themselves or in what territory," Antreasyan said. "These rights are still not being respected."
Stressing the necessity of sustained Palestinian advocacy, she argued the existing ceasefire and US President Donald Trump's proposal fail to address Palestine's fundamental grievances.
"The main issue is that the ceasefire and Trump's plan, which, again, still doesn't respect Palestinian rights and completely ignores the issue of occupation and apartheid," she said.
"We must continue until the Palestinians and Palestinians have all their rights to rebuild," she urged.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
