In Photos: Hundreds March Through Valletta In Solidarity With Gaza
Hundreds marched through the streets of Valletta yesterday evening in solidarity with Gaza – the besieged Palestinian territory facing daily, indiscriminate bombardment by Israel.
Organised by a number of NGOs, the protest drew hundreds of Maltese citizens demanding an end to what many are now calling Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people.
Protesters had three demands for Malta and the European Union:
- A strong and unambiguous stand by the Maltese Government condemning Israel and calling for its sanctioning, including the cancellation of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
- A ban on Maltese-flagged vessels transporting weapons or military materials to Israel, and a clear, enforceable policy to block such shipments from entering Maltese ports or being serviced by local vessels.
- The immediate recognition by the Government of Malta of the State of Palestine.
Shortly after the protest, Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that Malta will formally recognise Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September. However, scepticism remains – this marks the third time Abela has made or implied such a commitment, with the first dating back to March 2024.
Notable attendees included PN MPs Mark Anthony Sammut and Albert Buttigieg, PL MP Carmelo Abela, and former President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca – who delivered a pointed speech criticising the Trump administration and the European Union for what she described as complicity in the ongoing genocide.
Palestinian Ambassador to Malta Fadi Hanania and Moviment Graffitti leader Andre Callus also gave an impassioned speeches – with the latter urging Malta to act immediately in recognising Palestine. He condemned EP President Roberta Metsola and Prime Minister Robert Abela for what he called cautious rhetoric and limited action in the face of Israel’s ongoing bombardment and starvation of millions in Gaza.
Photos of emaciated children flooded the streets, as did chants exclaiming “Free Palestine”, “Sanction Israel” and “Let in the Food”. Attendees also brought empty pots and pans to bang on while marching through the busy streets, signifying the horrific starvation of Gazans as they remain trapped in a place they once called home.
Among the crowd were children flown to Malta from Gaza for urgent medical treatment – many had lost limbs in bombings that showered onto their schools, hospitals, and refugee camps.
Protesters urged Malta and the EU to move beyond timid words – to condemn, to sanction, to recognise. And while the Prime Minister’s latest pledge to recognise Palestine at the UN General Assembly offers a glimmer of hope, many remain wary after months of delayed commitments.
As the chants echoed through Valletta and the pots clanged for Gaza’s hungry, a message was sent to Malta’s leaders at home and in Brussels: History is watching. And neutrality must never be mistaken for silence.
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