Tunisian dissidents defy ban on 'appearance in public' to protest for Gaza

Several political dissidents on trial in Tunisia emerged from a "public ban" to protest in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel.

"Nothing can stop me from protesting, especially for Palestine," said Ayachi Hammami during the protest on Thursday, 12 October, organised by the Tunisian main Labor Union UGTT to support Palestinian resistance.

On Tuesday, an investigating judge imposed travel & public appearance bans on lawyer Ayachi Hammami for his "involvement in a conspiracy case."

Hamami, 64, a human rights defender and lawyer who was a minister in the first government of Kais Saied, is being prosecuted for having made comments critical of justice since 3 May 2023.

Two renowned opposition figures, Chaimae Issa and Lazhar Akremi, also on trial for "conspiring against the state," are set to defy the judge's decision to ban them from public space in Thursday's protest.

NOW: Thousands of people demonstrating in downtown Tunis in solidarity with Palestine, @ShahdLina reports.

Demonstration is led by the main labor union UGTT#tunisia #FreeGaza #Gaza #Gaza_under_attack #palestine #فلسطين #تونس pic.twitter.com/I51xsSHu4T

— Meshkal_TN (@MeshkalTn) October 12, 2023

In downtown Tunis, dozens of activists gathered Thursday afternoon waving Palestinian flags and chanting for "Arab unity" and against normalisation with Israel.

"Gaza is not for sale," echoed the renowned streets that hosted the Tunisian revolution against the Ben Ali regime over a decade ago.

For the past months, several reports have suggested a potential normalisation between Tel Aviv and Tunis as Israel endeavours to widen its influence on North Africa.

However, President Kais Saied has ruled out any chance of establishing diplomatic ties with Israel.

"The word normalisation does not exist for me when it comes to Israel," said Saied in a speech in August.

Over the weekend, The Tunisian Presidency affirmed its "total and unconditional" solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to recover their occupied lands.

In a press release, the Presidency called on the international community to assume its responsibility to end Israel's "barbaric attacks" against the Palestinians.

Tunisia's parliament is also moving towards criminalising any normalisation or cooperation with Israel, even through unofficial channels.

The pro-Tunisian president Saied parliamentary bloc, "Let the People Triumph," officially submitted a bill on Tuesday, which is set to be reviewed by Tunisian politicians.

"The situation in the occupied Palestinian territories does not only require criminalising normalisation but necessitates a liberation war where the enemy must be faced with non-recognition," a statement by the political bloc read.

Tunisia's pro-Palestinian stance stems from a long history of direct involvement in the dynamics of the Palestinian struggle for liberation since its beginning, as it was home to several Palestinian figures, including Yasser Arafat.

Since 1948, several Tunisians have joined the ranks of Palestinian militant groups, namely mechanical engineer Mohamed Zouari, who developed the drone system for Hamas'bEzzedine Al Qassam Brigades. He was reportedly assassinated in his hometown, Sfax, in 2016 by Israel's Mossad.