PARIS - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was met by scores of protesters in Paris yesterday calling for him to be tried as a war criminal as he began his tour of European capitals.
"We are here to say hello to Netanyahu and remind him and the world of the dozens of unarmed Palestinians that have been killed by the Israeli army in the last month," said 19-year-old student Antoine, waving a flag expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The official objective of Netanyahu's visit was to rally French President Emmanuel Macron's support against Iran, as well as inaugurate a joint French-Israeli cultural and scientific project.
On the streets, however, the focus was firmly on Israel's treatment of the Palestinian people and the Israeli army's actions at the Gaza border.
"I feel particularly concerned by the inhumane killing of the young medic Razan al-Najjar, which was against international law," said 20-year-old medicine student Yasmine who attended the protest in medical garb.
The photograph of the 21-year-old Palestinian medic shot dead by an Israeli soldier on June 1 was brandished by dozens of protesters at the rally to the chants of "Israel murderer, Macron accomplice".
"We are scandalised by Israel's war crimes, the latest of which is firing on civilians in Gaza with explosive ammunition," said Jacques, 65, a member of the France Palestine Solidarity Association one of the organisers of the rally.
"Today, Mr Macron and Mr Netanyahu are inaugurating the France-Israel season, which is a scandal because Israel violates France's values." (FA)