Organized by the Solidarity Platform with Palestine (PUSP)—which includes Amnesty International Portugal, Greenpeace Portugal, Médecins Sans Frontières, and the José Saramago Foundation—the massive protest demanded justice and an end to the regime’s decades-long colonial domination of Palestinian land.
Jonathan Bebebgui, a member of Jews for Peace, rejected the Israeli regime’s attempt to conflate criticism of its crimes with anti-Semitism.
“I am part of a group; we are Jews, anti-Zionists, and we stand in solidarity with Palestine,” he said.
“People now understand this is not about anti-Semitism, as the authorities in Tel Aviv have claimed.”
Bebebgui described the Israeli occupation as “colonialism,” stressing that despite the “genocide that has happened,” the growing global response offers hope.
“We believe this will continue until Palestine is free,” he declared.
He noted that the large turnout, including many first-time demonstrators, reflects the Portuguese people’s moral clarity.
“This initiative matters because the world must keep its eyes on Palestine,” he said.
“Even with a ceasefire, we want to make clear that it is not enough—we reject occupation, settlements, and the systematic oppression of the Palestinian people. Peace will come only when the occupation ends.”
João Antunes of Médecins Sans Frontières praised the strong public participation and condemned the regime’s restrictions on humanitarian aid.
“The ceasefire is fragile, and instability remains, worsened by Israeli-imposed constraints,” he said.
“We had four aid trucks, but they allowed only two to enter. Humanitarian assistance must pass without restrictions—the suffering is far from over.”
Antunes added that NGOs face severe challenges under the regime’s obstruction.
“There was enormous joy when the ceasefire was announced, but people remain fearful and distrustful,” he said.
“There must be sustained international pressure for real change.”
Among the demonstrators was Maria dos Santos, an architect holding a banner for Amnesty International.
“I didn’t even plan to be here,” she said.
“But what is happening in Palestine is a disgrace to humanity.”
Bebebgui stressed that international civil society must confront the regime’s propaganda and isolation tactics.
“Brainwashing in Israel is very intense,” he said.
“Change cannot come from within the Israeli regime—it must come from the world, through civil resistance and boycott.”