NICE, France
Pro-Palestinian gatherings are prohibited in the southern French city of Nice on Monday during Bastille Day celebrations, Nice Governor's Office announced Monday.
Nice mayor Christian Estrosi said that the city governor approved his request to prohibit all pro-Palestine gatherings planned on Monday.
“Demonstrations about the Middle East during our national holiday is unacceptable. The governor approved my request to ban any gathering,” Estrosi tweeted.
On June 30, Estrosi had also issued a decree banning "the ostentatious use of all foreign flags" in the city center throughout the football World Cup, a measure later suspended by court.
Meanwhile, thousands of people protested on Sunday against Israel’s attacks on Gaza and Palestine in various French cities including the capital, Paris.
Since 7 of July, Israel has waged a crippling air campaign against the Gaza Strip – dubbed "Operation Protective Edge" – with the stated aim of ending rocket fire emanating from the Palestinian enclave.
At least 175 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed by Israeli strikes and around 1,280 injured, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Gaza-based resistance factions, for their part, have continued to fire hundreds of rockets into Israel, some of which have reached Tel Aviv, in response to the ongoing offensive.
No Israeli fatalities have been reported thus far.
www.aa.com.tr/en
