On Friday, 9 December, the Collectif Palestine Vaincra — a member of the international Samidoun Network — organized a Palestine stand in Toulouse, France, near the exit to the Bagatelle metro station. With a large banner reading, “For Christmas, I’ll boycott Israel,” the stand focused on the need to celebrate the winter holidays and the end of the year ethically, with anti-colonialist principles. Several multinational companies heavily marketing their goods as gifts, such as HP and Puma, are directly implicated in the colonization of Palestine — and these brands, like all companies that support the economy of the Israeli occupation, must be boycotted to hold them accountable.
🇵🇸 Aujourd'hui dans le quartier de Bagatelle à Toulouse, nouveau stand de solidarité avec le peuple palestinien et pour le #BoycottIsrael !
➡️ Jeudi 15 octobre dès 19h à la Maison de Quartier de Bagatelle, soirée-débat "Solidarité avec Gaza"#OpenGaza pic.twitter.com/3uSI0v1Scl
— Collectif Palestine Vaincra (@Collectif_PV) December 9, 2022
Organizers also distributed hundreds of flyers inviting people to attend the upcoming Solidarity with Gaza evening on 15 December at the Bagatelle Neighbourhood Center. For more than 15 years, the over 2 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip have been subjected to an Israeli-Egyptian blockade causing a dramatic humanitarian situation. However, Gaza is still alive and truly resilient, continuing to courageously confront colonial oppression.
During this evening, participants will have the opportunity to discuss with Nawras Shalhoub, Palestinian artist who was present in Gaza during the last major Israeli assault in August 2022. All profits from the evening will be donated to Al Awda Hospital in Gaza. If you would like to support but cannot attend, please make an online donation to support this campaign. The Collectif also extended thanks to many local businesses that posted invitations to the event in their windows.
🇵🇸 Dans les commerces des quartiers de Bellefontaine et de la Reynerie à Toulouse, affichage pour annoncer la soirée-débat "Solidarité avec Gaza" organisée jeudi 15 décembre dès 19H à la Maison de quartier de Bagatelle !
➡️ https://t.co/9lQ827TXmt#OpenGaza pic.twitter.com/LwBuYXZUts
— Collectif Palestine Vaincra (@Collectif_PV) December 9, 2022
Despite the wintry cold weather, the stand was an excellent opportunity to meet, discuss and share solidarity with the Palestinian people and against the siege on Gaza.
The Collectif Palestine Vaincra regularly organizes information stands and various initiatives to support the Palestinian people in different neighborhoods of Toulouse. Do not hesitate to contact the Collectif if you wish to mobilize in Toulouse and to follow the Collectif on our various social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Telegram).