The April for Palestine march set off from Praça do Município, Lisbon, shortly after 3:30 p.m. towards Largo do Intendente, passing through Largo do Carmo to sing the symbol song “Grandola Vila Morena”.
This demonstration is taking place six months after the start of the war in the Gaza Strip, with the organizers – the United Platform for Solidarity with Palestine – estimating “several hundred” people to join in.
With Palestinian flags, the scarf symbolizing the Palestinian struggle, placards, slogans calling for “an end to the occupation and an immediate ceasefire” in Portuguese and English, the march began at 15:40.
Lara Aladina, who has been associated with the cause since 1981, when she was 9 years old, was present because it is an “injustice” and she will continue “until she dies” to defend the cause, both the recognition of the State of Palestine and the aid that she believes will be needed after that moment.
For the protester, “fascism takes advantage of ignorance and the issue of Palestine is exactly this manipulation through the ignorance of people, who don’t know what’s going on and so end up going along with the propaganda of the Arab, of the terrorist”.
This Sunday marks six months since the Hamas attack on Israeli territory, which left around 1,200 people dead and 250 hostages, according to Israel.
Israeli hostage declared dead by Hamas has Portuguese nationality
The United Platform for Solidarity with Palestine (PUSP) has called for an “April for Palestine” demonstration to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution.
“In the year in which Portugal celebrates 50 years of freedom and the end of fascism, colonial occupation and ethnic cleansing continue in Palestine, under the passive gaze of the international community,” according to the organization.
In response to the attack, Israel responded with attacks in the Gaza Strip, causing the deaths of more than 33,000 people, according to Hamas.
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