Activists who have been occupying Rådhuspladsen in Copenhagen for the past two weeks have now left the site. Earlier in the day, only two white garden pavilions were left after the demonstrators had packed up their tents. Copenhagen Police confirmed Thursday morning that there are no longer people on the site. Duty officer Stefan Ladeby stated that it was not the police who forced the activists to vacate the square.
Since Constitution Day, the activists had been blocking the lower part of Rådhuspladsen. The action was carried out by pro-Palestinian activists who aimed to pressure the Danish government to impose an arms embargo on Israel. The group behind the action, ‘Palestine Square’, had set up camp in tents on the square and stated that they would stay there until their demands were met.
A representative from the group stated in a press release: “When the International Court of Justice announces that there is likely genocide in Gaza, it is an absolute minimum that Denmark stops all arms trade with the state of Israel.” Similar demonstrations have taken place in other parts of Copenhagen before. For example, the movement ‘Students Against Occupation’ camped outside Copenhagen University for over a month to protest the university’s investments in companies with activities in the West Bank.
On Wednesday, pro-Palestinian demonstrators also blocked the main entrance to Christiansborg. 365nyt.dk is trying to get a comment from the group behind the action.