Kolkata: Thousands of people gathered in the heart of the city on September 18 to participate in a large protest rally and public conference in solidarity with Palestine. The event, organized by the collective ‘Friends of Palestine’ and supported by several civil society and religious organizations, called for an immediate end to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
The rally began at Ram Lila Maidan and concluded with a public conference near the Kolkata Municipal Corporation office in New Market. Leaders from diverse groups joined hands to express support for the Palestinian struggle and to demand stronger intervention from the Indian government.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind vice-president Malik Moatasim Khan addressed the gathering and condemned Israel’s attempts to assert full control over Gaza. He urged the Indian government to use its influence to press for an end to the violence. Dr. Masihur Rahaman, Ameer-e-Halqa of West Bengal, emphasized the moral duty of Indians to stand against oppression. State Secretary Shadab Masum and SIO West Bengal president Imran Hussein echoed similar sentiments.
Speakers from other social and community platforms also contributed. Soban Siddiqui from Furfura Sharif, Chotan Das from the Bondi Mukti Committee, Umar Awais, Maulana Ashraf Ali Qasmi, Maulana Ameen-ul–Ambia, and Qamaruzzaman all denounced the ongoing aggression in Gaza.
The event highlighted the growing concern in India about the humanitarian crisis in Palestine and the demand for justice and accountability in international forums.
