Introduction
Following the tragic escalation of the Israel – Palestine conflict on October 7, both ordinary citizens and civil society organisations in Denmark have been deeply frustrated by the one-sided position of the government’s position. As a results, tens of thousands of citizens and organisation have taken the issue in their hands and launched daily demonstrations on the streets across Danish cities and in front of the Danish Parliament.
The protest movements demand immediate and permanent ceasefires, unhindered access to life saving supplies like water, food, medicine, and the provision of shelters as well as to honestly address the root cause of the problem which has been festering for over 70 years. For this purpose, more than 50,000 signatures have been collected and delivered to the Danish Parliament on Monday. According to the Danish law, the Parliament is now obliged to take up the demands and vote on them.
Like everywhere across the Euromed region, the escalation has both shocked and disrupted the work of our ALF members in Denmark. It has been simply impossible to ignore the mass and indiscriminate massacres, starvation, displacement and destruction in Gaza following the October 7 killing and abduction of citizens in Israel.
In the face of this tragedy and the position of the Government, it has not been possible to continue talk about dialogue and intercultural exchange while we witness a tragedy unfolding before our own eyes. Therefore, we purpose that the upcoming HoNs meeting in Istanbul on 14-15 December be dedicated to serious and meaningful dialogue in the context the situation on the ground.
