"Thousands rallied in central Paris on Saturday in a large national march marking the UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Footage shows protesters carrying Palestinian flags and placards, some read: ‘Justice for Palestine. End of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory,’ as they marched through the streets. Police surrounded the protest as demonstrators launched fireworks and lit smoke flares. Demonstrators moved through Paris carrying Palestinian flags, banners and placards urging justice, while trade-union blocs, anti-colonial Jewish groups, students and local residents joined the march. Initial estimates described a dense crowd in the thousands. “Today, you can't be progressive, be left-wing, be committed to the right of peoples to self-determination, to humanism quite simply, and allow what the Israeli army and Israeli settlers are doing to happen. It's not possible,” said Eric, one of the protesters, who argued that France must apply the same standards across conflicts. “If we rightly sanction Russian imperialism today, we must also sanction Israeli colonialism in the West Bank and Gaza; otherwise, it is inconceivable. Otherwise, it's a double standard, and that's what we're seeing today with the Macron government.” Communist General Councilor for Ile-de-France Vanessa Ghiati said the mobilisation was a moral imperative. “We cannot be insensitive to what is happening. Our entire humanity is being called into question. As a communist and elected representative, we are in the streets with all those defending the Palestinian cause,” she explained. Others warned that the temporary halt in fighting did not amount to progress. “We've gone beyond what is tolerable,” said Angelo, another protester. “This is not a ceasefire. It's a ceasefire of dollars. It's a ceasefire of capitalists made on the backs of the people [...] It's the continuation of a masked genocide.” The demonstration, reportedly backed by more than 70 unions, associations, collectives and political parties, was led by the Association France Palestine Solidarite (AFPS) and drew participants from across the country."