Protesters across Muslim world denounce Israel in al-Quds Day rallies

Demonstrators call for "Death to Israel" and "Death to American" while expressing solidarity with Palestinians.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, REUTERS
Iraqi Shi'ite men hold a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a parade marking the annual al-Quds Day, in Baghdad, July 25, 2014. (photo credit: REUTERS)
Iraqi Shi'ite men hold a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a parade marking the annual al-Quds Day, in Baghdad, July 25, 2014.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Demonstrations took place across the Muslim world on Friday in support of the Palestinians and in protest of Israel and its ongoing campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
In Iran, rallies took place in Tehran and more than 700 towns and cities across the country during marches marking annual "al-Quds Day" or Jerusalem Day, which was launched in 1979 by the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomenei to show support for Palestinians and opposition to Israel.
"The Islamic world must in unison declare this day one of anger, hatred, unity and resistance against Israel," AFP quoted Iranian President Hassan Rouhani as saying at the demonstration in his country's capital.
Portesters carried carried placards emblazoned with the slogans "Death to Israel" and "Death to America," AFP reported.
Thousands of Shi'ite Muslims marched in Pakistan's biggest city Karachi on Friday to mark al-Quds Day and express solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Similar rallies were held in other cities across Pakistan.
In Karachi, about 5,000 men, women and children marched over US and Israeli flags spread out on the street chanting: "Down with Israel," "Down with America."
Mirza Yousuf, who led the rally, denounced the Israelis offensive in Gaza, in which more than 800 Palestinians have reportedly died.
"Muslims should wake up, specially the Muslim rulers who are showing impassiveness and cowardice. If these Muslims get united then Israel is nothing before them. If Muslims get united they can liberate Jerusalem and they can get the rights of Palestinians," Yousuf said.
The march took place as Israel's offensive on Gaza entered its 18th day.
In Jordan, men, women and children marched in downtown Amman to show solidarity with Gazans.
Protesters criticized the Israeli action.
"Shame on the ones who are besieging Gaza and they keep on besieging the strip and they open the doors to their media to affect negatively on the resistance and gloat over the martyrs and wounded Gazans to break the resistance force and the resistance of Palestinians," said Hamza Mansour, secretary-general of Muslim Brotherhood's political arm, the Islamic Front.
Al-Quds day is marked across the Islamic world on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.
A rally in Berlin of some 1,200 pro-Palestinian demonstrators and an estimated 700 counter-demonstrators supporting Israel remained peaceful on Friday, according to German police.
Chanting "freedom for Palestine, freedom for Gaza," Palestinian supporters marched on the German capital's Kurfuerstendamm shopping boulevard which had been closed off to traffic.
"Gaza is burning, Gaza is being destroyed," said the German organizer of the annual rally.