Dozens of Tunisians gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Tunis on Tuesday to demand the expulsion of the American ambassador and the passage of a law banning normalization with Israel. The demonstration, organized by pro-Palestinian advocacy groups, marked the first anniversary of the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, which sparked the ongoing war in Gaza. Amid heavy police deployment, protesters waved Palestinian flags and held signs reading “Stop the genocidal war in Gaza” and “Criminalize normalization if you are sincere.” The demonstrators accused the United States of supporting what they called Israel’s “aggression” in Gaza, where months of bombardments have killed tens of thousands and displaced over a million people, according to UN figures.
Ahmed Al-Kahlawi, head of the National Authority to Support the Resistance and Oppose Normalization, praised the Palestinian people for their resilience “This is a tribute to Palestinians who have not surrendered they resisted, sacrificed martyrs, and remain steadfast. These people represent the conscience of the Arab world.” Assala Azouzi, a member of the Joint Action Association for Palestine, said the demonstrations would continue until the Tunisian government takes stronger action. “Our voice is for Gaza, our voice is for Palestine,” she said. “We will continue to surround the American embassy and any other embassies complicit in the Palestinian tragedy.”
Tunisia has no official diplomatic relations with Israel, but public pressure has been growing for parliament to pass legislation that would criminalize any form of normalization from trade and tourism to political cooperation. Similar demonstrations were held last week in Sfax and Kairouan, with protesters calling on the government to block Israeli-linked ships from Tunisian ports and increase humanitarian aid to Gaza through Egyptian and international channels. Organizers say the sit-in in Tunis will continue until lawmakers introduce a formal anti-normalization bill and the government takes “clear, uncompromising” steps in solidarity with Palestinians.
