Around 2,000 people marched through the centre of the EU capital this past Sunday to pay tribute to the victims of the October 7, 2023 attacks, demand the release of the hostages, and denounce the rise of antisemitism in Europe.
The march brought together Jews, Christians, and Muslims who wanted to show that faith and freedom can stand together against intolerance. MCC Brussels joined the march with a large banner showing solidarity with the Jewish people and affirming support for Israel as a bastion of Western civilisation in the Middle East.
Photo: MCC Brussels
The streets, under heavy police surveillance, were filled with Belgian and Israeli flags, along with photographs of the hostages still held in Gaza. The organisers emphasised the “peaceful and apolitical” nature of the demonstration, although its message resonated clearly across a Europe increasingly divided over the Middle East conflict.
Among the twelve speakers were Yves Oschinsky, president of the Coordinating Committee of Jewish Organisations in Belgium (CCOJB), and Eugenia Daskalopoulou, president of the Belgian Coalition for Israel, who stated that “October 7 was an attack on humanity, and we must remember it so that history does not repeat itself.” Baroness Regina Sluszny, Holocaust survivor and president of the Forum of Jewish Organisations in Antwerp, evoked the memory of the children murdered in Israeli kibbutzim and reminded that “indifference is the prelude to horror.”
The event coincided with the imminent release of the last hostages held by Hamas. For many, the news brought hope; for others, it was a reminder that the price of peace remains extraordinarily high.
Javier Villamor is a Spanish journalist and analyst. Based in Brussels, he covers NATO and EU affairs at europeanconservative.com. Javier has over 17 years of experience in international politics, defense, and security. He also works as a consultant providing strategic insights into global affairs and geopolitical dynamics.
