New video footage shows large groups of pro-Palestinian and Hamas supporters clashing with French Riot Police Thursday during a protest against Israel in Paris, despite the French government implementing a ban on any pro-Palestinian protests.
OSINT Defender Intelligence Monitor tweeted videos of Thursday’s protest and the French Riot Police’s efforts to disperse protestors at a banned demonstration.
The videos were captioned, “Thousands of Pro-Palestinian/Hamas Supporters are Clashing tonight with French Riot Police in Paris after the French Government announced earlier today that moving forward any kind of Pro-Palestinian Demonstration was Banned and that anybody who Participates in these Events will be Arrested.”
According to The Associated Press, protestors were observed at Thursday’s demonstration with Palestinian flags, chanting “We are all Palestinians,” and spraying a monument in Republic Plaza in Paris with the words “Free Palestine.” Reuters reported that protestors also chanted “Israel murderer” and Macron accomplice.”
On Tuesday, Khalid Mashal, a former leader and one of the founding members of Hamas, called for a day of global Jihad against the Jewish people and a day of protesting in support of Palestinians to take place on Friday.
READ MORE: Video: Huge Michigan crowd cheers Palestine after Hamas kills 1,200 Jews
After multiple protests were staged throughout the world in the wake of the war between Hamas and Israel, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ordered prefects to ban any pro-Palestinian demonstrations in order to prevent additional violence from occurring in France.
With France serving as the home of the largest Jewish and Muslim communities in Europe, Darmanin warned that pro-Palestinian demonstrations would be “likely to generate disturbances to public order,” according to Reuters.
Nevertheless, police were forced to intervene Thursday to prevent hundreds of pro-Palestine protestors in separate groups from merging together in Paris. According to Reuters, French police used a water cannon and teargas to disperse the banned pro-Palestinian demonstration.
Additionally, Reuters reported that French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation on television, saying, “This event is an earthquake for Israel, the Middle East and beyond. Let’s not pursue at home ideological adventures by imitating or projecting. Let’s not add, through illusions or calculations, domestic divides to international divides. The shield of unity will protect us from hatred and excesses.”
Macron noted that the French government had increased police protection in Jewish communities, schools, and synagogues in light of the recent attacks against Israel.
“There is no ‘Yes, but,'” he said. “Those who confuse the Palestinian cause with the justification of terrorism are making a moral, political and strategic mistake.”
