After the traditional Friday prayer, thousands of people took to the streets in several Arab cities “in support of Gaza,” two days after the “Day of Rage,” which also saw many protests.
Egypt: “Bread, Freedom, Arab Palestine”
In Egypt, marches took place in the country’s main cities, according to local media. In the capital Cairo, tens of thousands of Egyptians demonstrated, particularly in the emblematic Tahrir Square, chanting “Bread, freedom, Arab Palestine” and “The people want the fall of Israel,” slogans inspired by those of the “2011 revolution.” President Hosni Mubarak.
Baghdad: pro-Iranian armed factions
Thousands of people demonstrated in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, including many supporters of Hashd al Shaabi, a coalition of pro-Iran armed factions, Israel’s arch-enemy and Hamas supporter.
“We support the Palestinian people against the Israeli occupying forces,” Ali Hussein, a 45-year-old taxi driver, told AFP. There were also protests in the Iraqi provinces of Nineveh (north) and Dhi Qar (south). In the west of the country, hundreds of Hashd al-Shaabi supporters began a sit-in in “support of Gaza.”
Jordan: “Save Gaza!”
There were also protests in Jordan, Israel’s neighbor, with which the country signed a peace treaty. In the capital Amman, more than 5,000 people demonstrated in front of the Husseini Grand Mosque, chanting “Save Gaza!” and “Open the borders to support the Palestinian people!”
Iran: death slogans
In Iran, hundreds of people demonstrated in Tehran overnight, chanting: “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!”
Lebanon: in Beirut and the periphery
The Lebanese also took to the streets, both in Beirut and in the southern periphery, a stronghold of the Hezbollah movement, an ally of Hamas.
Tunisia: Anger at France
In Tunisia, thousands of protesters gathered outside the embassy of France, a country accused of supporting Israel in its war against Hamas. “France, get out!” the demonstrators shouted, expressing their support for Hamas.
And north of the capital, dozens of people gathered in front of the US Embassy and burned that country’s flag.
Yemen: Palestinian flags
The Yemeni capital Sanaa, controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, was the scene of a major demonstration displaying huge Palestinian flags.
Bahrain: Mothers’ Solidarity
On the other hand, about 2,000 people demonstrated in Bahrain on the Gulf, shouting slogans against Israel and against the United States.
“I am a mother, I cannot even imagine the atrocities that families in Gaza suffer,” said a protester with her baby in her arms during a march organized after prayers.
Thousands of civilian casualties on both sides
According to Israeli authorities, more than 1,400 people have died on Israeli territory as a result of attacks by the Palestinian Islamist movement since October 7, most of them on the same day.
In addition, according to the Israeli army, around 1,500 Hamas fighters were killed in the counteroffensive with which Israel regained control of the attacked areas.
In the Gaza Strip, which is under a near-total Israeli blockade, more than 4,100 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died in incessant bombardments carried out by Israel in retaliation, according to local authorities.
jov (afp, ap, Portal)