On Friday, 26 August, the Collectif Palestine Vaincra organized a Palestine Stand at the Bagatelle metro station in Toulouse, France. This action took place amid a day of mobilization called for by the Palestinian prisoners’ movement in support of the growing struggle behind occupation bars. Since 22 August, the struggle has escalated to confront Israeli occupation prison authorities’ attacks on the prisoners and to demand the release of Khalil Awawdeh, a Palestinian administrative detainee on hunger strike for 178 days.
Accompanied by a banner and many posters highlighting the Collectif’s commitment to the liberation of all 4,450 Palestinian prisoners, participants in the Stand distributed hundreds of flyers highlighting the urgent situation of Awawdeh, whose life is at risk. He weighs only 35 kg and has vowed to continue his hunger strike until his release, while the occupation has been forced to “suspend” his administrative detention as he is hospitalized.
Posters also denounced the criminalization and raids on Palestinian civil society and popular organizations in occupied Palestine and internationally through the use of Israeli “terrorist” designations attempting to suppress the Palestinian cause and all attempts to uphold Palestinian rights.
🇵🇸 En direct du marché de Bagatelle à Toulouse, stand de solidarité pour la libération de tous les prisonniers palestiniens, en particulier Khalil Awawdeh en grève de la faim depuis 177 jours. #FreeKhalil #FreeThemAll pic.twitter.com/4FGwtO0iHT
— Collectif Palestine Vaincra (@Collectif_PV) August 26, 2022
Many people visited the stand to learn more about and discuss the current situation in Palestine, including the centrality of organizing for the release of Palestinian prisoners. The prisoners embody the front lines of the Palestinian resistance fighting Zionist colonialism and for the liberation of Palestine from the river to the sea.
Dozens of people participated in taking solidarity photos with the slogan “Free them all!” in solidarity with the Palestinians spending years behind bars due to their commitment to defend their people and their land.
Later in the day, several large mural posters were put up in the Bagatelle neighborhood calling for the liberation of all Palestinian prisoners.
🇵🇸 Les prisonniers palestiniens sont en première ligne de la résistance derrière les geôles sionistes. Avec leurs corps et leurs vies, ils se battent pour leur liberté comme Khalil Awawdeh en grève de la faim depuis 177 jours. Nous sommes avec eux ! #FreeKhalil #FreeThemAll pic.twitter.com/FNOdv6XuwV
— Collectif Palestine Vaincra (@Collectif_PV) August 26, 2022
The Collectif Palestine Vaincra regularly organizes information stands and various initiatives to support the Palestinian people in Toulouse. Do not hesitate to contact the Collectif if you wish to participate and to follow the Collectif on our various social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Telegram).