Protest in support of Palestine in front of the Courthouse in Sofia on March 30

A protest in Sofia demands an end to the violence in Gaza, an end to cooperation with Israel, and justice for Captain Marin Marinov, the Bulgarian UN employee killed by an Israeli shell.

On Sunday, March 30, citizens will gather at 4 p.m. in front of the Courthouse to march against war crimes in Gaza. The protest is being held in response to Israel's renewed military campaign, which has killed over 900 Palestinian civilians since last week alone. The death of Bulgarian Marin Marinov, one of over 300 humanitarian workers killed by Israel in Gaza, is part of this inhuman aggression.

The protesters demand the resignation of Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev, as they believe his position protects the interests of Israel, not those of Bulgarian citizens and international law. Two signals have been sent to the prosecutor's office in connection with Marinov's murder, as well as a petition to the President, Prime Minister and Prosecutor General of the Republic of Bulgaria.

The citizens are also demanding the immediate suspension of intergovernmental cooperation between our country and Israel, including in healthcare, water management and mineral development. It is cynical to talk about joint work with Israel in areas such as maternal and child health, when two-thirds of those killed in Gaza are women and children, the organizers claim. It is unacceptable for a company from an aggressor state to explore oil and gas deposits in the Bulgarian Black Sea waters.

The protest also draws attention to private business cooperation with Israel, including in the production of dual-use products. The organizers of the protest recall the aggression of the Israeli army against the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, insisting on international pressure on Israel to respect human rights and humanitarian law.

The protest is scheduled for 4 p.m. on March 30 in front of the Palace of Justice in Sofia, from where it will march along Vitosha Blvd., Patriarh Evtimiy Blvd. and Georgi Rakovski St. to the old building of the National Assembly and will continue along other main boulevards in the capital.