Paris authorities have banned a pro-Palestinian demonstration planned for Wednesday, Oct. 7, citing concerns over potential public disorder and the heightened security environment in France.
Paris Police Prefect Patrice Faure announced the ban on Tuesday, saying it had been issued at the request of Interior Minister Laurent Nunez.
“At the request of Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, I issued an order banning a demonstration ‘against the genocide in Gaza and for respect for the ceasefire’ in Paris on Wednesday,” Faure said in a post on X.
The demonstration was scheduled for Oct. 7, which marks three years since the Hamas-led attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Faure said authorities had identified “significant risks of public disorder,” pointing to what he described as a high terrorist threat in France and antisemitic incidents that remain at historically high levels across the country.
“In light of this, and in view of all the risks identified, it is my responsibility to ensure everyone’s safety. I have therefore decided to ban this demonstration,” he said.
The decision comes amid continued tensions surrounding the war in Gaza and demonstrations in support of Palestinians across Europe.
According to the source report, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, launched following the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, has resulted in more than 74,000 deaths and extensive destruction across the enclave.
