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BOBIGNY, June 21, 2025 (OLA NEWS) – Several thousand people gathered on Saturday at Place de la Libération in Bobigny, following a call by the collective “Stop Arming Israel France,” to protest against Israel’s presence at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget. Protesters accused the Israeli state of carrying out “genocidal” actions against the Palestinian population and denounced the inaction of the French government.
Support for the protest extended beyond the local region: residents from Seine-Saint-Denis, other parts of France, and even abroad joined the demonstration. Undocumented people and exiles were also present, with some seeing in the Palestinian struggle a reflection of their own.
Starting at 1:00 p.m., several organizations — including CGT 93 and the Bobigny chapter of the BDS movement — took the floor to condemn imperialism and the complicity of certain companies and banks in funding the arms industry. One activist notably referred to the Paris Air Show as a “fair of death and war,” emphasizing Israel’s participation despite accusations of committing “crimes against humanity” in Palestine and particularly in the Gaza Strip.
Political figures such as Éric Coquerel (La France insoumise) also attended the protest. The MP reiterated that his party had refused to attend the Paris Air Show, and denounced what he described as a “genocide orchestrated by Israel and Netanyahu against the Palestinian people,” calling for nationwide mobilization.
Protesters then marched towards the Le Bourget exhibition center. Signs reading “Stop the genocide” were held high, and Palestinian flags filled the streets. Chants such as “Israel murderer, Macron accomplice” and “Solidarity with undocumented migrants” echoed through the crowd. While police presence was significant at the start of the protest, it was gradually reduced as the demonstration remained peaceful.
This year, Israel is among the official guests of honor at the Paris Air Show, where it showcases military technologies developed by its defense firms. While five Israeli companies saw their booths shut down, others were still able to present their latest innovations — a situation strongly condemned by protesters, who are calling for a “total boycott of Israel” and demand that no assistance be provided to its military industry.
Activist groups also drew attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza: destroyed hospitals, overcrowded classrooms, and collapsing public services. For those at the demonstration, the urgency is clear, and the mobilization must continue — as summed up by a sign held aloft by one protester: “We are all children of Gaza.”
Reporting and pictures by Éloïse Le Nevalic, Lucas Autréau, OLA NEWS PARIS; editing by Alexandre Ninguez
