Tunis protesters rally for Gaza: "Silence has never helped"

Waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans, demonstrators condemned both Israel for what many deem as the intentional starvation of the Gaza population and Arab governments for their silence. Africanews reported that many have accused regional powers of inaction as starvation and suffering persist in the besieged enclave.

Protesters banged an empty cooking pot, a stark symbol of Gaza's worsening hunger crisis. "Palestinians are being starved — not only by Zionists, but with the complicity of certain Arab states," said demonstrator Lotfi Miloudi.
Chants of "Normalization is treason" resonated across the city, reflecting profound frustration with Arab states perceived as overly aligned with Israel.
The rally comes amid stalled peace efforts and rising global calls for a two-state solution.

While over 140 UN member states recognize Palestine, key nations such as the U.S., Canada, Australia, and many EU members have yet to do so—highlighting persistent geopolitical divides.
For many in Tunis, the march felt personal. Sondos Gheriani asserted, "Arab countries must do more. Even if we can't send money, our voices must be heard."

At one point, the crowd paused, singing the Tunisian national anthem, blending patriotism with a broader call for justice.
Prominent opposition figure Ahmed Nejib Chebbi also joined the protest, highlighting its political significance.

The rally also highlighted key moments of international support for Palestine, such as the Vatican's 2015 recognition of Palestinian statehood and Sweden becoming the first Western European country to do so in 2014. Both instances signaled a shift in global diplomatic attitudes and inspired broader support movements across Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia.