Tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated in countries in the Middle East and beyond on Friday in support of Palestinians and condemnation of Israel as it intensified its strikes on Gaza.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem was a focus of attention and a likely flashpoint on Friday, the Muslim holy day.
Hamas, which rules Gaza, urged Palestinians to rise up in protest against Israel’s bombardment of the blockaded coastal enclave, calling on them to march on the mosque and to confront Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank.
The compound in East Jerusalem’s walled Old City is Islam’s third holiest site after Mecca and Medina, and the most sacred to Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount.
Israel has been hammering densely urbanised Gaza with air strikes and artillery fire and more than 1,500 Palestinians have been killed. A ground invasion of the besieged enclave appears to be imminent.
In Baghdad on Friday, tens of thousands of Iraqis rallied in central Tahrir Square, waving Palestinian flags and burning the Israeli flag while chanting anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli slogans.
Also read: HRW says Israel used deadly white phosphorus in Gaza, Lebanon: What’s it?
State-organised rallies were held across Iran – whose government is Hamas’s main backer and one of Israel’s principal foes – in support of the militant group and against the Israeli bombardment of Gaza, state TV reported.
“Death to Israel. Death to Zionism!” shouted demonstrators, many carrying Palestinian flags and those of the powerful Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
In Indonesia, Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir joined dozens of people in a march against Israel in the Javanese city of Solo.
In the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, Muslim activists chanted slogans as they protested against Israel’s actions after Friday prayers at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
Members of Japan’s Muslim community staged a protest near the Israeli embassy in Tokyo. Participants held signs and chanted slogans such as “Israel, terrorist” and “Free Palestine”.
In Sri Lanka, protesters held up signs saying, “Palestine you will never walk alone”.
Protesters also took to the streets in India’s Kashmir region although Friday prayers at the main mosque in the regional capital Srinagar were cancelled to avoid unrest. They held placards that read “Ya Allah protect our brothers and sisters in Gaza and Palestine”.
Pro-Palestinian rallies were also planned in Rome, Munich, Istanbul, Belgrade and other cities.
