When solidarity becomes a crime.. a French activist faces prison because of Gaza

In a Paris courtroom, Alex is not an ordinary defendant, but a young man in his twenties who found himself facing terrorism charges because of his supportive stance on the Palestinian cause. The French public prosecutor is demanding a one-year prison sentence for him, along with two years of judicial supervision, his name being registered on the list of terrorism suspects, in addition to a fine of one thousand euros.

Alex, who preferred to be identified only by his first name, speaks of a path of harassment that began with his arrest for 48 hours last March on charges of promoting terrorism, before he was fired from his job and his bank accounts were frozen. Despite this, he says that what he was subjected to "is nothing compared to the repression faced by the Palestinian people," a comparison that summarizes his position and reveals his motives.

The young man belongs to the "French Revolutionary Youth League" and is facing legal prosecution after giving a speech at a pro-Palestine demonstration, in which he called for the release of the Lebanese activist Georges Abdallah, who was detained in France at the time. Since then, his name has been present in judicial files, but he asserts that this has not deterred him from continuing to take to the streets.

To this day, Alex participates in demonstrations condemning what he describes as the French role in the war on Gaza. He says in a sharp voice, "France is not just a supporter of the Zionist regime, but a direct partner in the genocide in Gaza, by sending weapons to Israel." Words he repeats, aware of their legal cost, but he insists on not backing down from them.

Alex is awaiting a new court hearing scheduled for next February 10th, but he affirms that his compass is still directed towards Palestinian prisoners, saying, "We must think of the thousands of Palestinian prisoners, more than 12,000 prisoners held in Israel." He believes that his personal battle is part of a broader issue that transcends the borders of his country.

The young man says, "We can tell them that we will be with them until the end, and that they can count on the French people and we will not let them down." For him, Gaza today represents "a model of pride and honor for all free peoples and revolutionaries in the world."

Despite the persecution and pressure he faces, Alex concludes his speech with a tone not devoid of determination, "The people of Gaza are entering history. They have written its pages with ink of blood. They are leading a battle for the freedom of the whole world, not just for Gaza."

Between the walls of the courtroom and the clamor of the street, the young man continues his battle, believing that the personal cost is less burdensome than silence.