As Israel’s airstrikes on Gaza continue for the seventh day following attacks by the Hamas armed group in the Gaza Strip, tens of thousands of Muslims across the Middle East held demonstrations in support of Palestine and condemnation of Israeli airstrikes on the 13th (Friday).
After the Islamic Friday service ended on this day, Muslim protests began in earnest.
Tens of thousands of people usually gather at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Israel, but on this day, Israeli police allowed only the elderly, women and children to enter. Police fired tear gas in the Old City and East Jerusalem.
Thousands of Hezbollah supporters gathered in Beirut, Lebanon, chanting pro-Gaza slogans and calling for “Death to Israel.”
In Baghdad, Iraq, tens of thousands of people gathered at Tahrir Square.
Demonstrations took place throughout Iran, Israel’s biggest enemy, which actively supports Hamas, with crowds in the capital Tehran burning Israeli and American flags and chanting slogans such as “Palestine will be the conqueror.”
In the Yemeni capital, Sanaa television, which is occupied by Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels, television broadcasted live footage of protesters marching through the streets. The slogan of the rebels fighting the Sunni Saudi-led coalition has previously been “God is great, death to America, death to Israel, curse to the Jews, and victory is Islam.”
In Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, some believers stepped on American and Israeli flags after Friday services. The protesters dispersed without any disturbance, but larger protests are expected in the afternoon.
“The international media and international courts are turning a blind eye to the injustice suffered by Palestine,” said a worshiper in southern Karachi. “They only focus on the actions of the Palestinian people to protect themselves,” he said. “They call this action terrorism.” “This Friday, we pray that with the help of Allah, Palestine will rise up and Israel will be destroyed,” he said.
There were also demonstrations in support of Palestine in Dhaka, Bangladesh and Kashmir, India.
[예루살렘=AP/뉴시스]
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.