Belgium: Pro-Palestine activists to protest in Brussels May 12

Event

Civil society groups and activists supporting Palestinian rights plan to protest in Brussels May 12. Participants will gather on Rue des Petits Carmes from 16:30. The purpose of the action is to denounce the eviction of Palestinians from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah and Israeli security services using excessive force against Palestinian activists in Jerusalem in recent days. Attendance will likely be in the hundreds.

Additional police will deploy to monitor the action. The protest and associated security measures will likely prompt transport disruptions around the protest area. Current COVID-19 measures in Belgium restrict public gatherings; police may attempt to disperse activists if they are deemed to be breaching these restrictions. Isolated clashes between protesters and police cannot be ruled out, particularly if activists attempt to breach any security cordons.

Advice

Avoid the protest as a routine security precaution and to mitigate associated disruptions. Heed instructions from security services and leave the area at the first sign of a confrontation. Check for transport disruptions and allow additional time for travel in the protest area from that late afternoon of May 12.