– Anwarulhaq Baig
New Delhi, Nov. 30: Protest marches and rallies took place across the globe, including in Europe, America, and Muslim countries, marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, denouncing Israeli aggression in Gaza on Wednesday. Rallies and demonstrations were held in different cities across the globe in London, Johannesburg, Harare, Stockholm, Milan, Manila, Tokyo, Istanbul, Beirut, Tunis, Tehran, Karachi and Quezon City.
Expressing their unwavering support for the Palestinian people, protesters marched with Palestinian flags, posters and banners, demanding an end to the Israeli brutal attacks on Gaza, which have claimed the lives of over 16,000 people, including 6,150 children and 4,000 women, since October 7.
Strong solidarity statements and messages were also issued by the heads of the nations and UN agencies such as China, Algeria, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Oman, Qatar and Türkiye.
UN Secretary-General: ‘Darkest chapter in the history of the Palestinian people’
On this occasion, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his message lamented that the day came during one of the darkest chapters in the history of the Palestinian people.
India –Arab nations: League of Arab States have commemorated the day at the Palestinian Embassy in New Delhi.
Marking the Palestine Day, India’s permanent representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj reiterated India’s relationship with the Palestinians. “Let me reaffirm our long-standing relationship with the Palestinian people based on deep-rooted historical and people-to-people ties and our consistent support to the people of Palestine in the endeavor for statehood, peace and prosperity,” she said.
Gulf Cooperation Council at UN General Assembly
Presenting a joint statement at the UN General Assembly discussion on ‘the Question of Palestine,’ the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have called for an immediate end to the Israeli occupation forces’ aggression in the Gaza Strip. They unanimously rejected the claim that Israel’s aggression was self-defense. Urging the international community to hold Israel accountable for violations of international humanitarian laws, the Arab nations have also strongly condemned the current Israeli crimes against Palestinians, including the use of internationally prohibited weapons.
Chinese President, Xi Jinping’s message
In a strong message to mark the Palestinian Day, Chinese President, Xi Jinping said, “China will continue to promote talks for peace, provide humanitarian and development assistance to Palestine, and work with the rest of the international community to get the question of Palestine back on the right track of the two-state solution.”
Japan protests
Thousands of people protested in Tokyo chanting slogans like “Free Palestine”, “Israeli terrorists” and “Boycott Israel”.
Europe: Protests
In the UK, marking the Palestinian Day, protesters gathered in London, calling for an immediate end to arms supplies to Israel. Protesting outside the office of ‘Fisher German’ company, they demanded to shutdown it due to its ties with the Israeli weapons firm Elbit Systems. Demonstrations took place across British cities, including in Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool to denounce Israel.
In Spain, protest marches across cities such as capital Madrid, Barcelona, Oviedo and Valladolid were taken out by the people demanding an end to the genocide in Gaza and bring the perpetrators to the International Criminal Court.
In Italy, students across universities including Florence, Padua, and Milan conducted protests to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and demanded to cut ties with Israeli institutions.
In the Czech capital Prague, protesters carrying placards and Palestinian flags and banners written names of 7,000 infants killed in Israeli airstrikes, demanded to end the Israel’s war on Gaza. The protesters were also chanting the slogan ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.’
Palestinian flag hoisted in Oslo
The Palestinian flag was hoisted at the Oslo city hall of the Norwegian capital, showing solidarity with the people of Gaza. On the sidelines of the event, calling for peace in the Middle East, Mayor of Oslo Anne Lindboe said, “When we know that more than 5,000 children have lost their lives (in Gaza), the equivalent of more than 275 school classes, it is only natural to remember them today.”
US and Latin America in support of Palestine
Various demonstrations were held across various cities in North as well as Latin America, from United States to Brazil, El Salvador, Colombia and Puerto Rico to mark the day.
In the United States, demonstrations, marches and protests, were held across universities, including in Harvard, Vassar, Cornell and Vermont to express solidarity with Palestinians and demand to cut ties with Israel. These protests were also triggered in response to the shooting of three Palestinian students in American state of Vermont recently. Condemning the attack, National Students for Justice in Palestine, an American student’s body said, “This is the latest in a series of escalating harassment and attacks against Arab and Muslim people across the US that is being instigated by the White House, mainstream media, and universities, all of which have supported the US-backed genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.”
In Bogotá, Colombia, several trade unions, along with the other people took out demonstrations condemning Israel and burning its flags.
Africa: solidarity with Palestine
In South African city of Johannesburg, hundreds of protesters from political parties, organizations and government officials gathered at Mandela Bridge downtown under the slogan of “Unite Against Genocide, Ceasefire Now.”
In Tunis, thousands of Tunisians protested waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against Israeli aggression.
In Morocco, protests and marches were held in 17 cities, including Rabat and Tetuan to express their support for Palestinians.
In 1977, the UN General Assembly designated 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. On that day, in 1947, the Assembly adopted the resolution to partition Palestine into two states.
