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60,000 names against inaction and the disregard for the law

On Monday 14 September 2026, at the opening of the autumn session of the Swiss Parliament, a 60-metre shroud bearing more than 60,000 names will be unfurled on Bundesplatz in Bern: a fraction of the confirmed victims in Gaza, given back a name and a presence.

When
Monday 14 September 2026 · 13:00 – 15:00
Where
Bundesplatz, Bern
What
Silent protest, open to the public and to the media
Poster: 60,000 names against inaction and contempt for the law. Silent protest, 14 September 2026, 13:00 to 15:00, Bundesplatz Bern.

A 60-metre banner will be unfurled, bearing more than 60,000 names representing a fraction of the confirmed victims in Gaza. The action replicates, with minor differences due to the restrictions in force at the start of the autumn session of Parliament, a similar action held during the Locarno Film Festival, which can be seen in this video.

The event aims to give a name and a presence to the victims, the vast majority of whom are civilians, including healthcare and media workers, of one of the most serious violations of international law of our time, which we must refuse to normalise.

Our demands are taken from the appeal to the Federal Council presented in Bern on 18 June by former Federal Councillor Ruth Dreifuss, signed by 600 prominent figures from civil society.

We call on our Government to

  1. Open the borders of Gaza

    Demand that Israel's political and military leaders open the Gaza borders to allow the entry of aid essential to the survival and health of the population, as well as independent media.

  2. Admit and treat civilian victims in Switzerland

    Organise and coordinate the admission and treatment in Switzerland of a new group of civilian victims from Gaza, in particular women and children who are seriously injured or ill, as was already done at the end of 2025.

  3. Declare that sanctions will follow if violations continue

    Declare that, should the Israeli government fail to put an end to practices that violate international humanitarian law in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, it will be subject to sanctions targeting the individuals, companies and institutions involved in implementing these policies, in line with Switzerland's obligation to ensure compliance with the Geneva Conventions, in its capacity as a contracting state (Common Article 1).

An invitation to the media

The initiative also stems from the observation that some sections of the Swiss media have devoted limited coverage to a humanitarian and legal tragedy of exceptional gravity. We believe that comprehensive and balanced reporting is an essential prerequisite for an informed public debate. Media representatives are warmly invited to attend and to get in touch in advance.

Organisers

The action is organised by the SHWAG Association (Swiss Healthcare Workers Against Genocide), who organised the hunger strike in front of Parliament in September 2025.

Contact

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