In a demonstration of solidarity and concern, over 100 staff members of European Union institutions convened in Brussels to voice their opposition to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Gathering outside the European Commission’s headquarters in the Belgian capital, protesters staged a poignant display, laying three rolled-up white sheets marked with red stains on the square.
Symbolically, these sheets represented ‘bodies’ upon which were inscribed the words “International Law,” “EU Treaties,” and “Genocide Convention.” The demonstrators aimed to highlight their discontent with Israel’s approach towards Gaza, particularly in the context of international law and humanitarian principles.
Manus Carlisle, a member of the EU Commission staff, articulated the significance of the protest, emphasizing the foundational values upon which the European institutions are built. “We’re coming together in a peaceful assembly, to stand up for those rights, principles, and values that the European institutions are built on,” he stated. “The reasons why we work here and love to work here. Those values of human rights, human dignity, and freedom especially.”
The protest, however, was not framed as a political statement, as clarified by Simona Baloghova, an employee of the European Committee of the Regions. Instead, it was a collective expression of concern for the human rights violations and the erosion of international norms observed in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The demonstration in Brussels underscores the growing international scrutiny and condemnation of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. As calls for accountability and adherence to international law intensify, gatherings such as these serve as a poignant reminder of the importance of upholding fundamental principles of justice and humanitarianism on the global stage.