The Palestinian Community in Belgium and Luxembourg rallied against the “field executions” of Palestinian youth by Israeli occupation forces outside the offices of the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium on Friday, March 11.
Carrying signs, banners and a massive Palestinian flag, Palestinian and solidarity protesters demanded an end to Israeli attacks on Palestinians and freedom for the Palestinian people. In addition to focusing on the killings of Palestinians, and particularly youth – 191 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli occupation forces since 14 September 2015 – the protest also called for freedom for 14-year-old Ahmad Manasrah and child prisoners.
There are currently over 400 child prisoners imprisoned by Israel, including very young prisoners such as Manasrah and 12-year-old Dima al-Wawi, whose case is detailed here by B’Tselem. (Please note that B’Tselem here appropriately refers to Dima, a minor, here as “D.”, but that we use her name because it is publicized by Dima’s family and the Palestinian prisoners’ movement.)
Protesters pointed to the targeting of Palestinian children and youth for Israeli violence, demanding that the European Union end its support for Israel, including the EU/Israel Association free-trade agreement, and take action instead to support boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel and the implementation of Palestinian rights.
Photos by Mahmoud Alsaadi and Tahsin Zaki
