Thousands fill Martim Moniz Square to demand end to Gaza aggression

Protests against the Israeli aggression on Gaza and in solidarity with the Palestinian people were once again heard yesterday, 18 October, in Lisbon's Martim Moniz Square, shouted by thousands of people who responded to the call from the Portuguese Council for Peace and Cooperation (CPPC), the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP-IN), and the Movement for the Rights of the Palestinian People and for Peace in the Middle East (MPPM), joined by other organisations and collectives.

Inês Caeiro, from the yourth association Projecto Ruído, contextualised the situation and introduced the different speakers.

The first speaker was João Coelho, a member of the National Council of CGTP-IN, followed by Dima Mohammed, a Palestinian researcher at NOVA-FCSH.

Carlos Almeida, vice-president of the National Board of MPPM, spoke before Rui Garcia, vice-president of the National Board of CPPC.

João Coelho returned to the stage to announce that other initiatives are planned for other places in the country, namely Évora (19 October), Braga (25 October), and others that have yet to be scheduled.

He also announced that the organisations promoting the current initiative would call for another demonstration on Sunday 29 October, at a time and place to be announced in due course.

He finished by reading out a proposal for a motion that shall be submitted to other organisations.