Thousands rally in Brussels in support of Palestine

ATHENS

Thousands of people gathered Sunday in the Belgian capital Brussels to express their solidarity with Palestinians, local media reported.

Demonstrators who attended the "Stop the Massacre in Gaza" rally chanted slogans urging the European Union to work toward a cease-fire and to remove an Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, said the Le Soir daily.

The crowd, which numbered 40,000 according to the organizers and 12,000 according to police, also demanded European authorities provide political and financial support to the International Criminal Court's investigation into the situation in Palestine, according to the newspaper.

The conflict in Gaza, under Israeli bombardment and blockade since Oct. 7, began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

At least 4,651 Palestinians, including 1,873 children and 1,023 women have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza.