Protests erupt in Paris against controversial gala to raise funds for Israel army

Protests broke out in Paris against a controversial gala organised by far-right figures in support of Israel, with the aim of raising funds for the Israeli occupation’s military.

The event, Israel is Forever, was hosted by an association whose mission is to “mobilise French-speaking Zionist forces.”

Hundreds of demonstrators marched through central Paris last night, condemning the event as a “gala of hatred and shame.”

Melkir Saib, a 30-year-old protester, told Al Jazeera, “Imagine if an association were hosting a gala for Hezbollah or Hamas – there’s no way the police would allow that.”

The protest took place before the France-Israel football match at the Stade de France, where authorities announced a security deployment of over 4,000 police officers and 1,600 stadium staff for today’s game.

Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was invited to the event but did not attend following widespread backlash. His invitation sparked outrage from local associations, unions and left-wing political groups, leading to protests in Paris.

It also comes after Smotrich remarked that with the return of President-elect Donald Trump to power in the US, the time has come to enforce Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs slammed the plans as “contrary to international law” and detrimental to regional peace efforts.

The president of Israel is Forever, Nili Kupfer-Naouri, also faced criticism last year, following the launch of Israel’s ongoing war against Gaza after she posted on social media that “no civilian in Gaza was innocent,” further fuelling anger.

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