Activists in Geneva urge canton authorities to condemn Israel over Gaza conflict

GENEVA

A pro-Palestinian demonstration was held Thursday in Switzerland in front of the Geneva cantonal parliament, with activists demanding that local authorities take a decisive stance against Israel's ongoing military actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

The protestors, who gathered in the heart of Geneva, chanted slogans in support of Palestine and denounced the Swiss government's failure to adopt a clear position against Israel.

They also called for a boycott of Israeli products.

Rania, a Swiss-Palestinian activist and one of the organizers of the demonstration, criticized the cantonal government over its inaction.

"The cantonal government is doing nothing and is not reaching out to the federal government to change our policy," she told Anadolu.

Rania highlighted the severity of the situation in Gaza, where she said people are being forcibly displaced and killed, noting that more than 500 people have died in the West Bank since October last year.

She also highlighted the lack of involvement of the federal parliament, which she said has been discussing the issue for nine months without taking a concrete position.

She emphasized the need to remind Swiss authorities of Geneva’s role as a city of peace and its historical commitment to the Geneva Conventions.

Another protestor, Lara Atassi, also criticized the Geneva cantonal government over its silence.

Atassi also condemned Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis for his continued support of Israel, accusing him of failing to denounce what she referred to as genocide.

Tensions remain high across the occupied West Bank amid ongoing Israeli military operations, which have resulted in significant casualties.

Since Oct. 7 last year, over 40,600 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have been reported killed in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian sources indicate that at least 670 Palestinians have been killed, nearly 5,400 injured, and over 10,300 arrested in the occupied West Bank.

In a landmark ruling on July 19, the International Court of Justice declared Israel's decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories unlawful and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.