PARIS: Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across France on Wednesday for May Day protests, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza amidst clashes in some cities.
While turnout was lower compared to the previous year’s protests against a contentious pensions reform, this year’s demonstrations were marked by demands for an end to the nearly seven-month-long Israeli bombardment campaign in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Marchers in cities including Paris, Marseille, Toulouse, Lyon, and Nantes carried Palestinian flags alongside union banners, expressing solidarity with Gaza amid ongoing mediation efforts to broker a truce between Israel and Hamas.
“I’m here for the workers, it’s important to mobilize for our rights,” remarked 27-year-old protester Louise in Paris, highlighting the dual purpose of the demonstration. “But I’m also here to call out the terrible situation in Gaza and in Palestine.”
While the Paris march initially commenced in a festive atmosphere, law enforcement resorted to tear gas to disperse a minority of “radical elements” later in the afternoon, leading to minor skirmishes and arrests.
May Day Protests Turn Violent in France
Similar scenes were witnessed in Nantes, where demonstrators clashed with police, underscoring the palpable tensions surrounding the issues of workers’ rights and international solidarity.
Ahead of the upcoming European Parliament elections, the CFDT union called for a day of protest to advocate for “a more ambitious Europe that better protects workers,” amidst concerns over the rise of far-right sentiments and socioeconomic inequalities.
The CGT union said more than 200,000 people took to the street across France on Wednesday. The interior ministry put the turnout across France at 121,000.
Last year, more than 800,000 took to the street across the country, according to the authorities. The CGT put turnout at 2.3 million
Israel’s relentless bombardment campaign has killed at least 34,568 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the territory.
