Sofia – Popular outrage is rising in Bulgaria against the genocide practiced by Israel in the Gaza Strip and the repression in the West Bank, despite the steady support provided by the Bulgarian government to Israel, which lacks a clear official explanation.

On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly sessions last September, Prime Minister Rosen Gulyazkov met with Jewish organizations in New York and declared that Israel is a “strategic partner” of Bulgaria.

However, after the news was published on the official Bulgarian government Facebook page—the most used platform in the country—it was difficult to find a positive comment among thousands of negative reactions.

Official Position Hesitation

Diplomatic expert and former Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Lyubomir Kyuchukov told Al Jazeera that “the Bulgarian government’s position is strange and illogical, as it ignores and turns its back on the balanced policy that was established in relations with both Israel and Arab countries, a balance that allowed active cooperation with both sides.”

Kyuchukov, also the spokesperson for the Bulgarian Diplomatic Association, the professional organization of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff, added that “relations with Middle Eastern countries were among the top priorities of Bulgarian foreign policy, but today Bulgaria has become one of the countries obstructing the adoption of common positions within the European Union (regarding Israel).”

He explained that Sofia “moves within the framework of the American policy towards the Gaza conflict, thereby ignoring its national interests and putting the future of its relations with regional countries at risk.”

Tensions also increased due to Bulgaria’s official reaction to the detention of the Freedom Flotilla, which included Bulgarian citizen and captain Vasil Dimitrov. Prime Minister Rosen Gulyazkov stated that “the participants themselves were aware that there was a declared state of war in Israel, so the risks were known and consciously accepted by them.”

Political science professor Anthony Todorov explained Bulgaria’s current foreign policy nature, telling Al Jazeera that “Bulgarian governments usually hesitate when facing a major geopolitical issue, wondering which side to look towards, whether one of the great powers or the main players, like choosing to side with US President Donald Trump or the European Union.”

Todorov believes this is the main reason behind the Bulgarian government’s reserved stance on condemning the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza, noting that Bulgarian politicians faced the same dilemma in 2003 during the Iraq war.

He also pointed to another influential factor, saying, “They watch what Germany does, but Germany has a completely different history with the Jews during World War II, whereas Bulgaria—on the contrary—can take a more critical stance towards the current Israeli government,” referring to Bulgaria’s WWII position, which, despite being allied with Nazi Germany, refused to deport 50,000 Bulgarian Jews, thereby saving their lives.

In a related context, accusations of anti-Semitism were directed at Yuliana Metodieva, founder and editor-in-chief of the “Marginalia” platform, the most prominent human rights media outlet in Bulgaria, based on a complaint by the “Shalom” organization representing Jews in Bulgaria despite the presence of other organizations.

This accusation arose because “Marginalia” was among the first media outlets to condemn Israel’s genocidal policy in Gaza, while its head Metodieva is one of Bulgaria’s leading Holocaust experts and has led campaigns for years to preserve the historical memory of that humanitarian tragedy.

Testimony of a Bulgarian Doctor

On the second anniversary of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, the “Marginalia” platform organized a symposium attended by prominent university professors, media experts, and public figures.

Among the distinguished guests was Dr. Melina Angelova-Che, an anesthesiologist who had just returned from her second humanitarian mission at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.

The doctor began her speech by saying, “Everything you see in alternative media is the truth,” and testified that “no MRI machines are working, and there is only one CT scanner working in southern Gaza.”

She continued, “As of September 1st, 1890 medical workers have been killed, and 365 others are detained in Israeli prisons. Despite medical competence, there are no medicines or medical supplies, no microbiology labs at Nasser Hospital, gas analyzers are out of service, and there is no intensive care.”

According to Angelova-Che, the medical system lacks the simplest tools to monitor patients in intensive care units, saying, “Sometimes I couldn’t even find anesthetic painkillers to perform anesthesia.”

The doctor—considered by many a “true hero” representing the Bulgarian conscience—concluded by saying, “When a person belongs to a just cause, that is the source of strength and psychological support for me. It is hard for me to be away from the sector; I am looking for a way to return and hope to come back again in winter. I am very grateful because I was able to be among this steadfast people, and my heart belongs to Gaza.”

Popular Activities

Recently, the capital Sofia hosted a basketball game between the Israeli team “Hapoel” and the Spanish team “Barcelona.” The Bulgarian authorities canceled at the last moment a demonstration organized by Amnesty International in front of the hall where the game was held, which was surrounded by banners and murals supporting Palestine.

Bulgaria witnesses almost weekly solidarity activities with Palestine, despite the central media in the country systematically adopting a pro-Israel approach.

Last Sunday, Sofia saw the largest demonstration supporting the Palestinian cause since the fall of the communist regime in 1989. Before that, an open workshop was organized to prepare protest banners.

At this year’s “Documentary Film Week” festival, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was highlighted, including the film “Bibi Files,” a documentary revealing secret recordings and investigations against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his family, focusing on corruption allegations linked to the Gaza war as a mechanism for his political survival.

Recently, a charity event titled “Run for Palestine” was organized by the Palestinian Association in Bulgaria, along with frequent charity markets to support Gaza families and promote Palestinian culture through teaching dabke and traditional embroidery arts.

The Gaza tragedy evokes strong feelings in Bulgaria’s majority Muslim and Turkish-origin regions. It is perhaps the first time in the country’s modern history that residents organize solidarity events for external causes in these areas, with a protest march held last Sunday in the city of Krumovgrad and another planned in the city of Rudozem next Saturday.