Organized by the Solidarity Platform with Palestine (PUSP), which includes Amnesty International Portugal, Greenpeace Portugal, Médecins Sans Frontières, and the José Saramago Foundation among other civil society organizations, the loud protest called for solidarity on an issue that transcends ideologies or religions.
Jonathan Bebebgui of the Jews for Peace movement rejected equating the Israeli state with the religion it practices.
“I am part of a group, we are Jews, anti-Zionists, and we stand in solidarity with Palestine, but I think people now understand that this is not about anti-Semitism,” as the authorities in Tel Aviv have argued.
The occupation of Palestine is an act of “colonialism,” and “despite the genocide that has happened, it is good to see a global reaction worldwide, and we believe this will continue until Palestine is free,” he added.
The large turnout at the protest, including many citizens who had never participated in such actions, demonstrates the solidarity of the Portuguese people, he observed.
“This initiative is important because the world must keep an eye on Palestine, and now that a cease-fire has been reached, we want to make clear that a cease-fire is not enough, that we are against occupation, against settlements, against the oppression of the Palestinian people, and that there will only be peace when the occupation of Palestine ends,” stated Jonathan.
João Antunes from Médecins Sans Frontières, part of the protest organization, praised the strong Portuguese participation in the initiative.
The “cease-fire is still very precarious” and there is “a lot of instability still in the territory,” compounded by the constraints imposed by Israel.
“We had four trucks, and they only allowed two to enter,” exemplified the leader, arguing that “humanitarian aid should enter without restrictions” because “the suffering of the people is not yet over.”
“We have been on the ground since the beginning,” and “the difficulties for NGOs to operate are many,” João Antunes admitted.
“There was enormous joy when the cease-fire agreement was reached, but people are still very fearful and distrustful,” which is why there should be “intense international pressure” for “things to improve.”
On accusations against NGOs like Médecins Sans Frontières of siding with Hamas, João Antunes acknowledged that such criticisms are unfair.
“We are a privately funded organization, and we stand alongside a population that has nothing,” he added.
Throughout the protest followed leftist political leaders and well-known activists, but there was also an anonymous participant, Maria dos Santos, holding the banner of Amnesty International (with the names of those who signed a petition for peace).
“I didn’t know about this, and I don’t even have a Palestinian scarf, but I saw these people in Rossio and wanted to stand with them. Do something,” she said.
“I am not political; I don’t like politics. But what is happening in Palestine is a shame for all of us,” said the young architect.
And it is this international civil society pressure that will make the difference, Jonathan Bebebgui expressed confidence.
“Brainwashing in Israel is very intense,” and the country’s political leadership controls public opinion, observed the Jewish activist.
“I think that change cannot come from Israel; it has to be the world, civil society, with a boycott, because [the solution] will not emerge from within Israel,” he warned.
