The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas and other Palestinian groups has resulted in more than 1,300 Israeli civilian casualties. Israeli airstrikes, on the other hand, have killed over 2,000 Palestinian civilians in Gaza. This retaliation has been seen as disproportionate and sparked protests worldwide.
In the heart of Baghdad, demonstrators gathered after Shia Muslim cleric and politician Muqtada al-Sadr called for a protest "in support of Gaza" and against Israel. Amid cries of "No to the occupation! No to America!" the protesters condemned the ongoing violence in occupied Palestine.
"This rally is aimed at condemning what is happening in occupied Palestine, the bloodletting and the violation of rights," Abu Kayan, an organizer of the protest, stated. (Related: Student groups call for the targeting of Israeli CIVILIANS in pro-Palestine “Day of Resistance” protests.)
Protests in Iran were in the same vein. In the capital of Tehran, groups of protesters were seen waving Iranian, Palestinian and Lebanese Hezbollah flags while holding banners with statements like "Down with America" and "Down with Israel."
Despite their political differences, Iran extends its financial and military support to Hamas because they share a mutual enmity toward Israel.
In Egypt, hundreds of protesters gathered near Cairo's Al-Azhar Mosque chanting in solidarity with Gaza. Clips of the protest went viral on Arabic-language social media circles.
"Arab and Muslim countries have the duty and the responsibility to provide urgent humanitarian aid and help to the Palestinians of Gaza," said protesters from the Al-Azhar Universty in Cairo and one of the world's most prestigious institutions for Sunni Islamic learning.
In Bahrain in the Gulf, protesters in the northwestern city of Diraz gathered in front of a mosque before Friday prayers reciting similar chants to those heard in Tehran in Baghdad, including "Death to Israel!" and "Death to America!"
These Bahraini worshippers later joined a protest march where Palestinian flags were waved and crowds stepped on Israeli and U.S. emblems placed on the street.
Supporters of the Iran-backed Hezbollah also rallied in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem declared that the group was "fully prepared" to support Hamas. He even claimed that "when the time comes for action, we will take it."
Meanwhile in Jordan, a nation that has long maintained a peace treaty with Israel, groups led by the Jordanian branch of the Islamic Action Front conducted protest actions in support of Palestine. More than 20,000 people were reported gathering around the Grand Husseini Mosque in the capital of Amman while chanting: "The people want the liberation of Palestine!"
France bans all pro-Palestinian protests to protect Jewish communities
By contrast, France has banned all pro-Palestinian demonstrations and called on Israel to respond "strongly" to Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups.
"Pro-Palestinian demonstrations must be prohibited because they are likely to generate disturbances to the public order," French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin stated.
He further warned that the organization of such protests would result in arrests. Darmanin also called on law enforcement to ensure the safety of synagogues and schools frequently visited by French Jews. Additionally, he declared that any foreigner engaging in acts of anti-Semitism on French soil would be "immediately expelled."
Moreover, French President Emmanuel Macron urged the nation to unite on that same day. "It is this shield of unity that will protect us from drifting away and from all hatred," he stated.
France is not the only European nation to implement increased security measures in response to fears of reprisals against Jewish communities. The U.K. and Germany have also taken steps to protect their Jewish populations amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
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