PARIS 

A group of students staged a protest Wednesday in the French capital in solidarity with Palestinians.

Gathering in Sorbonne Square, they chanted pro-Palestine slogans and spelled out "Free Palestine" with candles on the ground.

Statements by Gazan poets, authors and artists were read during the rally.

Speaking to Anadolu, Olivia d'Almeida, a student at Pantheon-Sorbonne University, said there is no reason to justify the "barbarity" happening in Gaza.

She said it is not possible for her to remain silent and do nothing in the face of the dire humanitarian situation in the besieged enclave.

Calling the Israeli attacks "unacceptable," she urged the French government to condemn Israel and help the Palestinians.

Another protester, Laurent Perlikowski, said that border crossings should be opened and an immediate cease-fire should be established so humanitarian aid can reach the Gaza Strip.

He also called on the government not to send arms to Israel.

Israel has imposed a crippling blockade on Gaza since Oct. 7, leaving its population, particularly residents of northern Gaza, on the verge of starvation.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas in which 1,163 people were killed.

More than 31,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza and over 73,000 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of most food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.