France to ban Paris protests amid Israeli bombardment of Gaza

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has asked police officials in Paris to ban protests over the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine.

The Israeli military has been bombing the Gaza Strip since Sunday and Palestinian armed groups in the besieged territory have launched rockets into Israeli territory. At least 83 Palestinians, including 17 children and seven women, have been killed in the Israeli attacks, and seven Israelis have been killed in attacks launched by Palestinian groups.

In 2014, during the Gaza War, protests against Israeli attacks turned violent when young men from the Jewish Defence League and pro-Palestinian youths clashed.

A Paris, j’ai demandé au Préfet de police d’interdire les manifestations de samedi en lien avec les récentes tensions au Proche-Orient. De graves troubles à l’ordre public furent constatés en 2014. Consigne a été donnée aux Préfets d’être particulièrement vigilants et fermes.

— Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) May 13, 2021

Translation: In Paris, I asked the prefect of police to ban demonstrations on Saturday related to the recent tensions in the Middle East. Serious disturbances to public order were noted in 2014. Orders were given to the prefects to be particularly vigilant and firm.