Israel Palestine Conflict: Thousands of Muslims across the Middle East protested after Friday prayers in support of Palestine and against Israel’s increasing bombardment of Gaza. This has also deepened fears of a wider regional conflict as Israel is preparing for a possible ground offensive in Gaza.
More than 1 million people in northern Gaza have been asked to move to the southern area within 24 hours. A week ago, Hamas, an extremist organization operating from Gaza, suddenly attacked southern Israel. After which the war started and is still going on.
Protests from Jordan to Yemen
According to news agency AP, on Friday, crowds of Muslim devotees gathered on the streets after the prayers, from the usually quiet streets of Amman in Jordan to Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, which has suffered the wounds of war. People were angry over the devastating Israeli air strikes in Gaza.
Only 5000 people reached Al-Aqsa on Friday
On the other hand, in an effort to limit the possibility of violence, Israeli police in Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque were allowing only some elderly people, women and children to enter the premises for prayers. Those who maintain the mosque said that only 5,000 people reached the place but on a normal Friday around 50,000 people pray here.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque sits on a hilltop complex that is sacred to both Jews and Muslims. The Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam and is located on what Jews call the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism.
Hezbollah supporters demonstrated in Beirut
Thousands of supporters of Lebanon’s Hezbollah extremist group in Beirut waved Lebanese, Palestinian and their own flags, as well as chanted slogans in support of Gaza and against Israel. Since the Hamas attack, the Iran-backed extremist group has launched sporadic attacks in neighboring Lebanon but has mostly stayed away from combat.
Demonstrations took place in Iraq, Iran and Syria
Thousands of protesters gathered in Tahrir Square in Baghdad. Protesters in Iran, supporters of Hamas and Israel’s regional arch-enemy, also took to the streets after Friday prayers. In Tehran they burned Israeli and American flags and raised slogans. Protestors also took out a rally in the Syrian capital Damascus.
People took to the streets in Egypt, Pakistan and Germany
People demonstrate against Israel after Friday prayers at the historic Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, Egypt. He said that Israel will remain their enemy from generation to generation.
In Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, some Namazis demonstrated and raised slogans in support of Palestine and against America and Israel. At the same time, Palestine supporters protested and raised slogans against Israel in the German city of Siegen on Friday.