MAJOR European governments’ systematic censorship and repression of solidarity with the Palestinians has been revealed in a new damning report, with some states associating peaceful activism with terrorism.

The briefing by Cage International, released on Thursday, analyses state policies in Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Britain in relation to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and calls for a ceasefire.

European governments have “adopted a unified stance in response to the genocidal bombardment of Gaza by Israel,” the campaign and advocacy group said.

This involves the condemnation of the Palestinian people’s right to resistance and self-determination and unequivocal support for Israel.

As a result, there is active repression of support and solidarity movements for Palestine, the report warned.

The report highlighted how European governments are conflating pro-Palestinian activism with support for terrorism, as seen in decisions by the French and German authorities to ban pro-Palestine demonstrations.

In France, the ban was overturned by the Court of Cassation following a widespread backlash, but it remains in force in Germany.

Similar policies are also in place in Austria, Denmark, Spain and the Netherlands.

Alongside the ban, the French Ministry of Justice issued a guideline that forms of support for Palestine should be regarded as backing for terrorism, which led to raids and arrests.

Cage International also reported that right-wing parties are using the issue to attack immigration, “threatening the already vulnerable lives of migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees.”

In Spain, the far-right Vox party urged the government to suspend applications for Spanish nationality and residency and prohibit migrants from “countries of Islamic culture” from entering the country.

Cage International said that “political, diplomatic, and military backing for Israel persists among these European states, further fuelling the mass murder of innocent Palestinian lives.”

Managing director Muhammad Rabbani said: “Across Europe, a discernible pattern of systematic repression is emerging.

“Governments have been actively seeking to curb public solidarity with Palestine.

“This effort has manifested in numerous arrests, prosecutions and even the outright banning of legitimate civil society organisations.

“Overall, it appears these policies of intimidation have failed to achieve their intended goal.”

Mr Rabbani said that the public outcry against Israel’s actions and sympathy for the Palestinian cause are “now at unprecedented levels.”

Following its findings, Cage International is to publish a toolkit on how to resist crackdowns and continue to show solidarity with Palestine.