Notable Western capitals and cities, including Istanbul, Washington, Sydney, Dublin, Berlin, Paris, Vienna, Brasilia, and Cape Town, heeded the call, joining Arab communities from Rabat to Baghdad in massive demonstrations on Saturday, February 17.
Adnan Hmidan, Vice President of the Palestinian Forum in Britain and a representative of the coalition behind the initiative, interpreted the vast turnout as a testament to sustained global support for Gaza, countering official Western expectations of waning interest over time.
Hmidan remarked: “In London, Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff, and major cities worldwide, we witness a resounding movement aimed at halting the genocidal crimes perpetrated by the occupation, evident just days after a YouGov poll revealed that 66% of Britons advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza, with support for Palestine in Britain rising to 22% compared to 16% for Israel.”
Among the prominent figures addressing the London demonstration were former Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, Palestinian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Hossam Zomlot, and representatives from various solidarity groups including Kamel Hawash and Ben Jamal from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Farah Saber from the Palestinian Forum in Britain, Lendsie German from the Stop the War Coalition, Mustafa Al-Dabbagh from the Muslim Association of Britain, Ismail Patel from the Friends of Al-Aqsa Organization, and Kate Hudson from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
Noteworthy was the participation of Layan Muhammad, a young Palestinian-British woman from North Elford, who announced her candidacy for the upcoming British elections, aiming to become the first veiled Palestinian candidate in the legislative elections slated for the end of 2024.
Anas Yelman of the Palestine Initiative, organizing the Istanbul march, affirmed Turkish solidarity with Gaza, stating: “Our presence here signifies not only solidarity with Gaza but also our duty to our brothers and our people, rooted in our allegiance to Al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy sites. Standing with Gaza equates to standing with Al-Aqsa; abandoning Gaza is tantamount to abandoning Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign in Britain, remarked: “Throughout each stage of Israeli aggression and its genocidal acts against the people of Gaza, we witness atrocities we never thought imaginable. The images of Rafah under bombardment and injured children shock the conscience of the world.”
Demonstrators across the globe echoed chants demanding an immediate cessation of attacks, accountability for war crimes, and freedom for Palestine from the river to the sea. They called for an end to genocide, solidarity with Rafah, and the opening of borders to facilitate aid. (ILKHA)