Thousands of people in Muslim countries and beyond held demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, calling for an end to Israel’s blockade and airstrikes following a brutal incursion into southern Israel by fighters from the Hamas militant group that rules Gaza.
Demonstrators marched to the U.S. Embassy in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta, chanting “Free Palestine” and “Stop the genocide”. They also burned Israeli flags and effigies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
All Over the World
In Turkey, protesters gathered in Ankara and Istanbul, waving Palestinian flags and banners that read “Down with Israel” and “Gaza will not surrender”. They also denounced the U.S. for its support of Israel and urged the Turkish government to take a stronger stance against the Israeli aggression.
In Iraq, thousands of people rallied at the border crossing with Jordan, holding signs that said “We are all Gaza” and “Resistance is our choice”. They also expressed their support for the Palestinian armed groups that have been firing rockets into Israel in response to the Israeli offensive.
In Egypt, hundreds of students staged protests at several universities, chanting slogans against Israel and the U.S. and calling for the liberation of Jerusalem. They also criticized the Egyptian government for its role in mediating a ceasefire that has not materialized.
Protests Across the World
In Jordan, thousands of people took to the streets of Amman, waving Palestinian flags and shouting “Death to Israel” and “With our soul and blood, we will redeem you, Gaza”. They also called on King Abdullah II to cut ties with Israel and open the border with Gaza to allow aid and volunteers to enter.
In South Africa, protesters marched in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, holding placards that said “Stop killing children” and “Boycott Israel”. They also urged the South African government to expel the Israeli ambassador and impose sanctions on Israel.
In Morocco, hundreds of people demonstrated in Rabat, Casablanca and other cities, expressing their solidarity with Gaza and condemning the silence of the Arab regimes. They also chanted “Palestine is our cause” and “The people want to topple the deal of the century”, referring to the U.S.-brokered normalization agreements between Israel and some Arab countries.
The protests came as Israel continued its offensive on Gaza, which it launched on October 7 in response to a surprise attack by Hamas that killed 1,300 Israelis and took at least 100 Israelis hostage. Israel said it was targeting Hamas militants and infrastructure, but its air strikes have also hit residential buildings, schools, hospitals and media offices.
According to the latest figures from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 1,900 Palestinians have been killed and 7,696 wounded since Israel launched its offensive. Among the Palestinian casualties, 2,000 are children and 1,400 are women.
The UN Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting on Saturday to discuss the situation in Gaza and call for an immediate ceasefire. However, previous attempts to broker a truce have failed, as both sides have rejected each other’s conditions.
