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Civil Society Support and Activist Movements for Palestine in Europe

In Europe, there are numerous civil society organizations, activist groups, and solidarity movements that support the Palestinian cause and protest Israeli policies. These groups are generally organized at the national level but sometimes collaborate through international coalitions or campaigns.

The most common and widespread form of organization is national groups operating under the Palestine Solidarity Movement, particularly active in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Ireland, and Scandinavian countries.

Below is an overview of some prominent Europe-based civil Palestinian protest and activist groups and their activities:

Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC)

Headquarters: United Kingdom (one of the largest Palestinian solidarity groups in England)
Website: While specific URLs are not always listed, national groups typically maintain their own websites (e.g., palestinecampaign.org).
Activities:
- Organizing mass demonstrations and marches to protest Israeli attacks on Gaza and the occupation in general (sources report tens of thousands participating in London demonstrations).
- Supporting and promoting the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
- Campaigning for their governments to halt arms sales to Israel.
- Advocating for the UK government to provide aid to the Palestinian people.

Europe-Wide BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) Movements

The BDS movement is supported and implemented by numerous national groups across Europe. Rather than a centralized organization, it functions as an economic pressure mechanism to support Palestine.

Activities:
- Calling for boycotts of products from Israeli settlements or companies linked to the occupation.
- Pressuring pension funds and banks to withdraw investments from companies involved in the Israeli occupation.
- Urging governments to impose international law–compliant sanctions against Israel.

Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network

This network is not a protest group per se but a broader coalition working with Palestinian human rights organizations.

Activities:
- Providing support to Palestinian human rights organizations (sources note members such as El-Hak, listed by Israel as a “terrorist organization”).
- Monitoring and documenting human rights violations in the region and raising awareness throughout Europe.

National Groups in Germany, France, Spain, and Other Countries

Mass demonstrations involving thousands of people have been organized in numerous European cities, especially during the Gaza conflicts. These protests are typically organized by coalitions of local Palestinian associations, civil society organizations, and leftist/activist groups.

Examples and Activities:
- Germany: Despite attempts to ban or restrict protests, demonstrations continue under slogans such as “All Eyes on Gaza”.
- Spain: Daily protests demand that governments impose sanctions on Israel and call on the EU to stop the genocide.
- France: Pro-Palestinian demonstrations persist despite bans, with support actions from students and various civil sectors, e.g., Sorbonne University.

⚠️ Important Note

Pro-Palestinian civil protest movements in Europe, and particularly their public actions, face restrictions, bans, and forceful interventions by governments and police in some countries (e.g., Germany and France). Sources indicate that UN experts have expressed concern that these measures violate human rights and restrict freedom of protest.