Wave of solidarity with the Palestinian people and for peace in the Middle East sweeps Portugal

Israel's brutal aggression against the population of the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian people in general, which followed the events of 7 October 2023, sparked an immediate reaction on the streets of Portugal.  After a month and a half, this reaction turned into a wave of actions in solidarity with the Palestinian people and for peace in the Middle East, involving many thousands of Portuguese, as well as Palestinians and people of many other nationalities living in our country.

This wave of solidarity was expressed in street actions in 13 regional capitals and numerous other locations, from the north to the south of Portugal, often under difficult weather conditions.  MPPM has been actively involved from the outset in this wave of solidarity that is sweeping across our country.

In addition to the street actions mentioned below, which were generally promoted in different formats by the CGTP-IN, CPPC, MPPM, Projecto Ruído Youth Association, and other trade union and grassroots structures and organisations, various other actions took place during this period with the presence of MPPM.  Our Movement also promoted positions demanding a ceasefire in Palestine, peace in the Middle East and a solution that recognises the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including an important appeal signed by 127 women and men of the cultural sector.

Solidarity with Palestine and the demand for an immediate ceasefire were also an important part of the Third Meeting for Peace, which followed on from previous meetings in 2018 and 2021, on 28 October 2023 in Vila Nova de Gaia.  This Third Meeting was promoted by 13 entities and organisations, including MPPM, and was attended by 800 people committed to the struggle for peace in all its forms.

The first street action following the start of the bombardment of Gaza was the gathering organised on Wednesday 11 October by MPPM, CPPC and CGTP-IN in Lisbon, in Praça Martim Moniz, which was attended by hundreds of people.

On Tuesday 17 October there was a first gathering in Porto, in Praceta da Palestina, followed the next day, 18 October, by another gathering in Lisbon's Praça Martim Moniz, both of which actions were attended by many hundreds of people.  From then on, the movement spread nationwide.

On 19 October, a gathering was held in Évora, at Largo Camões.  On 25 October, there was a gathering in Braga, in Rua do Castelo, and the following day there was another gathering in Praceta da Palestina, in Porto, and a demonstration and vigil in Coimbra, as part of the Coimbra for Palestine platform.

On Sunday 29 October, Lisbon was the scene of a large demonstration called by CGTP-IN, MPPM, CPPC and Projecto Ruido, which was joined by dozens of other organisations.  Many thousands of people marched in the rain, with the slogans "Peace in the Middle East, Independent Palestine—No to war! No to the massacre!" and marched from Praça Martim Moniz to the Town Hall.

On 31 October, Viana do Castelo hosted a gathering at Largo da Estação.  On 2 November there was a gathering in Viseu's Rossio.  On 3 November there was a gathering at Praça da República in Portalegre.  On the same day, Lisbon hosted a vigil in Alameda Afonso Henriques, on whose lawn 8,000 Palestinian flags were placed, expressing the idea that for every victim in Palestine a flag of resistance was raised in Portugal.  On 4 November there was a rally in São João da Madeira, in Praça Luis Ribeiro.

On Sunday 5 November there was a demonstration in Porto, parading between Praceta da Palestina and Praça D. João I.  On Wednesday 8 November, there were demonstrations in Leiria, in Rodrigues Lobo Square, and in Santarém, in front of W Shopping Mall.  On the same day, 8 November, Faro held a Vigil for Peace in Rua de Santo António.

On 11 November, MPPM and CPPC took the demand for an end to the aggression against Gaza and for peace in the Middle East to the large trade union demonstrations held by CGTP-IN in Lisbon and Porto.

On Wednesday, 15 November, the Setúbal Peninsula held four simultaneous demonstrations, attended by hundreds of people, in Setúbal, Almada, Baixa da Banheira and Montijo.

On Thursday 16 November, Beja held a large gathering followed by a parade through the centre of the city.  An "Artistic Intervention in Solidarity with Palestine" took place in Coimbra's Praça 8 de Maio, with the collective painting of a cloth.  On 17 November, demonstrations took place in Covilhã (at Pelourinho) and Guimarães (at Largo da Oliveira).

On 18 November, MPPM, CPPC and Projecto Ruido took part in the demonstration called by the Unitary Platform for Solidarity with Palestine, which brought together thousands of people in Lisbon.

In the coming days, and on the way to the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, which is marked every year on 29 November, several new street initiatives have already been scheduled to express the demand for an immediate ceasefire, an end to the aggression against Gaza, peace in the Middle East and an independent Palestine.

Coimbra will hold a human cordon parade entitled "An Embrace for Peace in Palestine" on Tuesday 21 November, starting at 5.30pm, beginning at Praça da Portagem and ending at Praça 8 de Maio; in Porto there will be a new demonstration on Sunday 26 November, starting at Praceta da Palestina at 3.30pm and parading to Praça D. João I; in Évora a new rally is scheduled to have place at Largo de Camões on Tuesday 28 November at 7pm; and in Lisbon, to mark the International Day of Solidarity, the rally will take place at Martim Moniz Square on Wednesday 29 November at 6pm.

The wave of solidarity with Palestine will continue in Portugal until there is finally an end to the slaughter that Israel is committing against the people of Palestine.

Ceasefire now!
Peace in the Middle East!
Independent Palestine!