Pro-Palestinian protesters take to streets around the world

Pro-Palestinian protests have taken place across the world – as Israel edges closer to a ground invasion of Gaza.

Demonstrators took to the streets in several Arab nations, including Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt – neighbours of Israel – as well as countries with large Muslim populations, such as Bangladesh.

In Baghdad’s Tahrir Square, tens of thousands of protesters waved Iraqi and Palestinian flags, while there were also demonstrations in Germany and Turkey.

Lebanon

In the streets of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, protesters turned out in their numbers with Palestinian flags – some even waving the yellow flag of Hezbollah.

Lebanon is Israel’s neighbour to the north – where there has been increased tensions between Israel’s Defence Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah fighters.

Hezbollah – a Lebanese political party and militant group backed by Iran – have been fighting a shadow war for many years since 2006 – primarily in Syria.

Egypt

People also took to the streets of Israel’s neighbour to the west, Egypt.

The activists were seen waving Palestinian flags after Friday prayers at the Al Azhar Mosque.

Jordan

In Israel’s neighbour to the south east, Jordan, there were also Pro-Palestinian protests – though they were met with a strong police presence in the capital, Amman.

Jordan maintains peaceful – though often tense – relations with the Israeli government, having signed a peace deal in 1994.

Iraq

The largest protest was in the streets of Baghdad.

Tahrir Square was decorated with a mixture of Palestinian and Iraqi flags, with a huge crowd of tens of thousands of people turning up to show support for the Palestinian people.

Yemen

Pro-Palestinian protests took place in the capital of Sana’a on Friday.

Yemen’s Houthi movement – backed by Iran – has issued a warning that it stands ready to engage in hostilities against Israel should the United States directly back the Israeli military campaign on the Gaza Strip.

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Somalia

In Somalia’s capital of Mogadishu, one protester was seen carrying a flag and a gun on a march to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

The east African nation has an internationally-backed government.

However, it faces an ongoing challenge from al Qaeda-aligned Al Shabab insurgents – who joined other al Qaeda branches around the world in celebrating Hamas’s attacks over the weekend.

Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, protesters waved Palestinian flags after Friday prayer at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital, Dhaka.

The government of Bangladesh – officially a Muslim country – has called for an end to the fighting.

“We urge both Israelis and Palestinians to exercise maximum restraint and call for an immediate ceasefire to avoid further loss of innocent lives on both sides,” the government said in a statement earlier this week.

India

Protesters took to the streets in India’s Kashmir region on Friday to show their support for Palestinians.

India’s government has backed Israel in the conflict, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying earlier this week that India “stands firmly with Israel” and “strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism”.

It also says it backs a “sovereign, independent, and viable state of Palestine”.

But the country has a large Muslim population – around 14% nationwide. Kashmir is India’s sole Muslim-majority state – with more than 96% of the population said to follow Islam.

South Africa

In South Africa, demonstrators turned out in the streets of Cape Town waving Palestinian flags as they marched towards the city’s parliament.

Some held banners with “Save Gaza” as they marched through the streets.

Turkey

Protesters chanted slogans while holding Palestinian flags during a demonstration to show their solidarity in Istanbul.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Israel’s blockade and bombing of Gaza in response to Palestinian militant group Hamas’ attack was a disproportionate response amounting to a “massacre”.

However, he has attempted to mediate in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Germany

On Friday, Pro-Palestinian activists in Germany clashed with police during protests in Berlin.

Scholz announced a ban in Germany on all activity lauding the Hamas attack in Israel, including the use of their symbols, or expressions of praise for murder and manslaughter. The burning of the Israeli flag is also prohibited.

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