Every day, thousands of Tunisians mobilize in the streets of Tunis to show their unwavering support for the Palestinians who are suffering violent bombings from Israel. At the call of the UGTT trade union center and several associations, these solidarity demonstrations continue to grow.
Tunisia has always been a country committed to the Palestinian cause, even under the dictatorship of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. Despite the repression, Tunisians have always expressed their solidarity with the Palestinian people, notably by welcoming Yasser Arafat’s Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from 1982 to 1994. The attack on the PLO headquarters in 1985 marked the spirits, causing numerous victims, both Palestinian and Tunisian.
Today, it is a mobilized youth who takes to the streets of Tunis. Thousands of young people, usually little interested in politics, wore Palestinian keffiyehs and proudly waved the Palestinian flag. For them, the Palestinian cause is a rare opportunity to see all generations and all political sides come together. Aziz Chebbi, political science student, emphasizes that this unity is exceptional and that it shows how important the Palestinian question is in the collective consciousness of the country.
The mobilization is not limited only to Tunis. Spontaneous demonstrations of support were also organized in other parts of the country. Solidarity with the Palestinians transcends geographic and political divisions, thus uniting civil society and Tunisian youth in their cry of support for Gaza.
The demonstrators are also demanding stronger measures against any normalization with Israel. They denounce the support of France and the United States for the Israeli state, believing that this contributes to perpetuating injustice and violence against Palestinians.
The mobilization in Tunisia in favor of the Palestinian cause is not new, but it continues to grow as Israeli attacks increase. Tunisians have always demonstrated unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people, aware of the long struggle they have been waging for decades. This mobilization demonstrates the commitment of the Tunisian people to justice and peace in the Middle East.
In a context where the situation in Palestine continues to deteriorate, it is essential to support these mobilizations and to amplify the voices of Palestinians who demand justice, freedom and dignity. International solidarity is more necessary than ever to put an end to the illegal occupation, the abuses and the suffering inflicted on a people who aspire to live in peace on their ancestral land.