Accompanied by drums and numerous flags bearing the colors of Palestine, participants vocalize their reasons for demonstrating with slogans such as “Israel is violence, Palestine is resistance.”
“Today and forever an independent Palestine” and “Free Palestine, stop the slaughter” are other chants echoed throughout the demonstration, which initiated around 3:00 p.m. at Restauradores.
The participants are heading towards Rossio. Some are adding vibrancy to the protest with giant Palestinian flags and banners bearing the word “peace.”
To mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, demonstrations are being held today in Lisbon and Porto as part of the campaign “Everyone for Palestine! End Genocide! End Occupation,” supported by over 150 associations and collectives in Portugal.
Similar initiatives are scheduled in cities across other countries.
The war in Gaza was sparked by attacks on Israel, led by Hamas on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages.
Israel’s retaliation led to over 69,000 deaths, mostly civilians, according to data from the Gaza Health Ministry (supervised by Hamas), which the United Nations (UN) considers credible.
The Israeli offensive also obliterated almost all of Gaza’s infrastructure and forcibly displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
