![People gather to stage demonstration to show solidarity with Palestinians at Republic Square in Paris, France on May 28, 2024. [Luc Auffret - Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/AA-20240528-34714117-34714104-PROPALESTINE_DEMONSTRATION_HELD_IN_PARIS.jpg?fit=1062%2C800&ssl=1)
Several municipalities in France have turned off the lights at their city hall buildings on Wednesday night to honour civilians Israel killed in the Gaza Strip, Anadolu Agency reports.
Marseille Mayor, Benoit Payan, launched the campaign in response to recent Israeli attacks on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
“The horror of the murderous strikes on Rafah revolts us and touches us to the very depths of our humanity,” Payan said on X, announcing the symbolic gesture to commemorate the victims and urging other municipalities to join.
The mayors of Nantes, Lyon and Bordeaux also participated in the initiative, turning off the lights at their respective city halls to mourn those killed in Gaza by Israeli attacks, according to local media.
Israel has killed more than 36,200 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured over 81,700, according to local health authorities.
The Israeli war has pushed 85 per cent of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60 per cent of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.
Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which, in January, issued an interim ruling that ordered it to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.
Gaza: Israeli air strike on Rafah kills 12 more Palestinians, say medics