The recent ban of all pro-Palestinian protests by French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has not stopped demonstrators as thousands have congregated at Place de la République in Paris.

The demonstrations by the pro-Palestinian group come as a result of an attack by militant group Hamas on Israel over the weekend, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 civilians.

“Pro-Palestinian demonstrations must be prohibited because they are likely to generate disturbances to the public order,” the minister said. “The organisation of these prohibited demonstrations should lead to arrests.”

The government announced that French police have arrested more than 20 people in the wake of dozens of antisemitic acts since the Hamas cross-border attack from Gaza on Saturday.

Along with the United Kingdom and Germany, France has increased security over concerns of increased attacks against members of the Jewish community.

France homes Europe’s largest Muslim and Jewish communities. The conflict has French President Emmanuel Macron calling for a plea for unity to “protect us from drifting away and from all hatred”.

“Let’s not add, through illusions or calculations, domestic divides to international divides,” he said. “Let’s not pursue at home ideological adventures by imitating or projecting.”

The recent protests in France are one of many occurring world-wide in support of Palestine, as New South Wales police have threatened to shut down a planned pro-Palestinian protest this Sunday.

It comes after a demonstration of nearly 1000 people took place near the Sydney Opera House last Monday, where some protestors were seen setting the Israeli flag on fire.

The Palestine Action Group have changed their plan of action after receiving legal advice that it can go forward with a “static demonstration” at Hyde Park this Sunday, without a march.

“This will be a static rally,” it said, “we will not march but we will be loud, we will be proud, and we will show the state that we are in full support of the Palestinian people and will not bow down to their attempts to silence our movement.”

Photo: Palestine Demonstration in Montreal by KMo Foto is available HERE and is used under a Creative Commons license. This photo has not been modified.