PRAGUE

The Czech Republic is preparing to criminalize a pro-Palestine slogan, according to a statement Thursday by the Interior Ministry.

"From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," used in protests to express support for Palestine, could be penalized as "propaganda of terrorism" in certain circumstances, spokesperson Klara Dlubalova said in a statement.

The use of the slogan in the context of the conflict in the Middle East is problematic and could be referring to the will to destroy Israel, it said.

Police will monitor the verbal or written use of the slogan during protests and will notify organizers of future demonstrations of its "problematic" nature, it added.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group, Hamas, on Oct. 7.

At least 11,500 Palestinians have been killed, including nearly 8,000 women and children, while more than 29,200 have been injured, according to the latest figures from Palestinian authorities.

Thousands of buildings including hospitals mosques and churches have been damaged or destroyed in the Israeli offensive.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, stands at 1,200, according to official figures.

"From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," is a slogan that refers to the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, which includes Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

It is commonly employed to describe the aspiration for a unified Palestinian state extending from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea.