Oct 13 (Portal) – Tens of thousands of protesters gathered across the Middle East and parts of Asia and Europe on Friday to support Palestinians and condemn Israel, which stepped up its attacks on Gaza in retaliation for Hamas attacks.
Jewish communities in the United States, France and elsewhere also held rallies in solidarity with Israel following the Hamas attack from Gaza, the deadliest rampage against Israeli civilians in the country’s 75-year history.
There was strong support and sympathy for Israel from Western governments and many citizens in the face of Hamas attacks, but the Israeli response also sparked anger, particularly in Arab and Muslim countries.
In Turkey, crowds gathered outside mosques, chanting against Israel and saluting Hamas. In the southeastern city of Diyarbakir, 46-year-old business owner Mikail Bakan said: “The entire Muslim world must be united against Israel.”
In Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, youth set fires in the streets and clashes broke out with the Israeli military.
A giant Palestinian flag was flown overhead at a protest in Rome, and demonstrations broke out in other European cities, including Braband in Denmark and Berlin, where some demonstrators were arrested by police.
Germany and France had banned pro-Palestinian demonstrations and several Western countries said they had increased security at synagogues and Jewish schools because they feared protests could lead to violence.
Hamas, which rules Gaza, called on Palestinians to rise in protest against Israel’s bombing of the blockaded enclave and called on them to march to Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The site in east Jerusalem’s walled Old City is Islam’s third holiest site after Mecca and Medina and the holiest for Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount. No major incidents were reported there as of 1700 GMT.
Last weekend’s attack on Israeli communities by Hamas – which is designated a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union and other governments – killed at least 1,300 people. Most were civilians, including women and children.
Since then, Israel has bombarded Gaza with air strikes and artillery fire, killing more than 1,500 Palestinians. A ground invasion seems imminent.
Major US cities from New York City to Los Angeles increased their police presence in Jewish and Muslim neighborhoods.
In Washington, where a rally in support of Israel and the American Jewish community was scheduled to take place, police erected a fence around the Capitol complex. Tourists were escorted away from the building and held on the sidewalk.
“Hamas wants to instill fear in Jews worldwide and prevent us from going about our daily lives. We believe canceling our rally would send the wrong message,” organizers said in a statement.
PAIN ON BOTH SIDES
In Baghdad on Friday, tens of thousands of Iraqis gathered in central Tahrir Square, waving Palestinian flags, burning the Israeli flag and chanting anti-American and anti-Israel slogans.
“We are ready to join the fight and free Palestinians from Israeli atrocities,” said Muntadhar Kareem, 25, a teacher.
He, like most protesters, wore a white shroud to symbolize their willingness to fight to the death.
State-organized rallies were held across Iran – whose government is Hamas’ main backer and one of Israel’s main enemies – in support of the militant group, state television reported.
“Death to Israel. Death to Zionism!” shouted demonstrators, many carrying Palestinian flags and those of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem told a protest in Lebanon that the group was “fully ready” to contribute to the fighting. Last week there were already clashes between the group and Israel across the Lebanese border.
In Indonesia, Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, the suspected mastermind of the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, joined dozens of people in a march against Israel in the Javanese city of Solo.
In the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, activists protested against Israel’s actions after Friday prayers in the main mosque. Members of Japan’s Muslim community demonstrated near the Israeli embassy in Tokyo, holding signs and chanting “Israel, terrorist” and “Free Palestine.”
In Sri Lanka, protesters held signs reading “Palestine, you will never walk alone.” Demonstrators also took to the streets in Bulgaria, Yemen, Cape Town, the Indian Kashmir region, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Egypt.
PRAYERS FOR PEACE
Additionally, Jewish people should hold vigils and rallies in support of Israel.
In Warsaw, Poland’s Chief Rabbi, Michael Schudrich, was to lead a multi-confessional peace prayer. Members of France’s Jewish community were to gather on the Sabbath in Paris’ largest synagogue.
On Thursday evening, French police used tear gas and water cannons to break up a banned rally in support of Palestinians in Paris. The government banned pro-Palestinian protests, saying they were likely to lead to public unrest.
Jewish schools in the Netherlands were closed for security reasons, as were two Jewish schools in London.
Police in the British capital said thousands of officers were carrying out extra patrols and visiting schools, synagogues and mosques. The increase reflected a significant increase in hate crimes, particularly anti-Semitism, a police statement said.
Thousands of people were expected to take part in a March for Palestine on Saturday.
In Germany, activists from the radical youth environmentalist group Last Generation canceled planned protests, saying they did not want to distract police from their job of protecting Jews and Jewish institutions.
Reporting by Portal bureaus; Writing by Angus MacSwan; Edited by Mark Heinrich, Andrew Heavens and Alistair Bell
Our standards: The Thomson Portal Trust Principles.
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