Hundreds gathered in Lisbon's Largo do Chiado, marching towards the Assembly of the Republic, to demand the Portuguese government's recognition of the State of Palestine. Among the protesters, Sofia Gusmão, a retired citizen, voiced her concerns, stating, "We cannot be complicit in what's happening. A people are being decimated, and Israel must stop creating instability across the Middle East. People need peace, life, schools, and land."
Gusmão criticized the Portuguese government as "a disgrace" for not following Spain's lead in recognizing Palestine. "Why are we always dependent on the 'boss'? The boss is the United States. Our Constitution says no to war," she added, highlighting the heroic yet endangered Palestinian people.
Pedro Coimbra, an architect, joined out of "pure solidarity with the Palestinian people." He emphasized the importance of recognizing Palestine and fighting for peace against imperialism, colonialism, and violence.
The conflict's toll is staggering: Since October 2023, Israel's military campaign has resulted in 55,300 Palestinian deaths, over half being women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. This campaign followed Hamas's attack on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took over 250 hostages, 53 of whom remain captive with uncertain fates.
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