demonstration on the sidelines of Emmanuel Macron’s visit to denounce his position on the war between Israel and Hamas

Some 200 people demonstrated on Thursday, November 16, on the campus of the University of Lausanne to protest against the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron and denounce his position on the war between Israel and Hamas. The demonstrators marched, chanting in particular “Macron complicit!” and carrying banners inscribed “Stop genocide” Or “Free Palestine”reports the Swiss press agency Keystone-ATS.

The fifty police officers on site used pepper spray to stop demonstrators who wanted to force the police cordon, according to the agency. After a few agitated minutes, calm returned, except for a “concert of pots and pans”. The demonstrators were surrounded by the police.

Emmanuel Macron defends a “balanced” position

The French president has been in Switzerland since Wednesday for a two-day trip. From the University of Lausanne, he delivered a speech on Thursday devoted to his vision of Europe, before debating with students.

As of Wednesday, the French president was questioned about the conflict by the press. He claimed to defend a position “balanced” and who does not “never varied”. “We fully recognize Israel’s right to defend itself and fight terrorism, but because Israel is a democracy (…) this right to defend itself must be within the framework of international humanitarian law and respecting the rules of war”, he explained.