- Several thousand people expressed their solidarity with Gaza in the city of Bern on Saturday afternoon.
- As part of the approved demonstration, they asked the Federal Council to work for an armistice.
- The approved rally through the city center was peaceful, even if a small group repeatedly donated unrest.
An estimated 10,000 demonstrators moved loudly from the shooting mat via city center to the Bundesplatz, as various media observed on site. The organizers spoke of more than 20,000 participants.
Shortly before the departure, there was hardly any get through the conveyor point – and more people continuously came across it. The participants had traveled from all parts of the country to see their posters. Romandia in particular was well represented.
“War criminal Cassis”
Around 30 organizations, including the Swiss Trade Union Confederation, Amnesty International, had called for the demonstration, the SP, the Greens and Campax. As the central concern, they asked the Federal Council to work for an immediate, permanent and monitored ceasefire in Gaza.
Wermuth and Dreefuss are running in the demonstration in Bern.
Keystone/Peter Klaunzer
“The inactivity is unacceptable and must end immediately,” said it in the call. Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis in particular accepted the participants in their chants and on their posters: “Ignazio Cassis Complicit in Genocide” was on a transparent, “War criminal Cassis” on another.
Wermuth booed
Numerous speakers also expressed their disappointment with the government on the Bundesplatz. “I was fed up with the hiding place behind neutrality,” said SP-Co President Cédric Wermuth.
A small group reacted to his appearance with boos. Wermuth said he could understand frustration in this context. The Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu is a government of war criminals, he said. “And that’s how it should be treated.”
The organizers repeatedly called for mutual respect, also with a view to the transparent. When the vote was also interrupted by old federal councilor Ruth Dreefuss with stubborn calls, she immediately intervened: “Sohere will she get there,” she said to the stubborn.
Police in the background
Larger incidents did not occur, but according to police, there were sprays and property damage. The Bernese cantonal police also carried out person controls, as written on X.
The traffic was cordoned off, the police were continuously with a visible contingent on site. This resulted in the consequences from the unexpected Middle East demonstration from the end of May, which was escalated. At that time, the emergency services used tear gas, rubber red and a water cannon against the demonstrators.
