January 30, 2026
Demonstrators carrying banners and Palestinian flags are protesting Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama’s visit to Israel during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Tirana, Albania on January 30, 2026. Under the slogan “Not in My Name” a pro-Palestine demonstration organized by civil society organizations took place in front of the Albanian Parliament building, where demonstrators expressed their disapproval of Prime Minister Rama’s visit to Israel between January 25-27. [Olsi Shehu – Anadolu Agency]
A pro-Palestinian protest was held in Albania’s capital, Tirana, on Friday, Jan. 30, against Prime Minister Edi Rama’s recent visit to Israel, Anadolu reports.
The demonstration, organized by civil society groups under the slogan “Not in My Name,” took place in front of the Albanian Parliament building. Protesters voiced opposition to Rama’s visit to Israel between Jan. 25 and 27 and expressed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Demonstration organizer Floriar Arapi said the protest aimed to show that Albanian society stands for peace and justice and does not support policies linked to violence and civilian deaths.
Protester Sidorela Vatnikaj said Rama’s visit did not represent the Albanian people, stressing that Albanians understand the suffering caused by war and oppose what is happening in Gaza.
Another protester, Orgest Rrushi, criticized Rama’s speech at the Israeli parliament, saying demonstrators rejected statements made in their name and called for an end to the war.
Police prevented protesters from marching from the parliament building.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama shielded Israel from accountability in a Knesset address, pinning Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe entirely on Palestinian group Hamas while ignoring more than 71,000 Palestinians killed in Israel’s ongoing genocide.
Addressing Israel’s parliament, Knesset, on Tuesday, Rama opened his speech by expressing goodwill toward Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and highlighting Albania’s long-standing solidarity with the Jewish people.
Rama highlighted Albania’s historical support for Jews, saying the country and its people, who he noted stood “as few others did for the Jewish people,” deserved recognition from Israel.
He said he was honored to receive the Presidential Medal of Honour from President Isaac Herzog, whom he described as a “noble and faithful friend of Albania.”
However Albanian experts in an interview with Anadolu underlined that Rama’s speech was “one sided”, putting Albania in position of supporting Israel in Gaza war.
Albanian political analyst Marlind Laci, commenting on the speech, stressed that Rama’s government “has no clear plan,” guided more by Rama’s “personal instinct” than by Albania’s national interest.
“There is no medium-term or long-term plan regarding the objectives of the Republic of Albania in the Balkans and the Middle East,” he underlined.
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