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Protests erupted in Paris last night as hundreds marched to denounce a controversial gala, dubbed a "gala of hatred and shame" by protestors, that was organised by far-right figures to support Israel. Called Israel is Forever, the gala was planned by a coalition of pro-Israel groups of the same name whose stated goal was to "mobilise French-speaking Zionist forces". The event, aimed at raising funds for Israeli forces, featured the far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich as one of its invited guests. The controversy around the event was heightened when pro-Palestinian critics pointed out that Israel is Forever president Nili Kupfer-Naouri said last year that "no Palestinian in Gaza is innocent". This prompted hundreds of protesters to march through central Paris, denouncing the gala as "genocidal" and accusing it of promoting "hatred". The demonstrations took also place on the eve of a high-stakes football match between France and Israel at the Stade de France, in northern Paris. After days of growing criticism of the gala event, and calls for his arrest upon arrival for complicity in war crimes, Smotrich's office said he would not travel to Paris to participate. Smotrich is a vocal advocate of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The controversial Israeli politician has also openly called for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza. On Monday, Smotrich drew global outrage after saying he hopes the election of Donald Trump will clear the way for the Israeli annexation of the West Bank — a step that would end the prospects of a Palestinian state.