UPDATED ON:
Friday, January 02, 2009
20:53 Mecca time, 17:53 GMT
 
News Middle East
Angry protests over Gaza offensive

Protesters clashed with riot police in Amman [Reuters]

People across several continents have staged rallies to protest against Israel's ongoing bombardment of Gaza.

Thousands of Palestinians demonstrated in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Friday, after calls by Hamas for a "day of wrath".

"We will sacrifice our soul and our blood for Gaza," chanted the demonstrators, shouting pro-Hamas slogans and calling on fighters to "hit Tel-Aviv".

In Jerusalem, protesters clashed with police after Friday prayers. 

With a view to curb protests, Israel sealed off the West Bank for the day as well as key parts of Jerusalem. Men aged under 50 years were prohibited from entering the Al-Aqsa mosque.

In the Jordanian capital Amman, riot police fired teargas to push back hundreds of protesters marching towards the Israeli embassy. Several protesters were beaten and arrested by police, the news agency Reuters said.

More than 10,000 people marched through Indonesia's capital carrying banners and Palestinian flags. The demonstrators gathered in the city centre to pray for the
safety of Palestinians before marching to the US embassy, which was guarded by hundreds of police.

Protests were also held in other Indonesian cities after Friday prayers.

Extensive outrage

Demonstrations were held in Kabul and other cities in Aghanistan, where people expressed their disappointment with Arab leaders for their inability to take action towards Israel.

In Indian-administered Kashmir, hundreds burnt Israeli flags and chanted anti-Israel and anti-US slogans. They marched through the streets of the provincial capital Srinagar, carrying pro-Palestinian banners and portraits of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah.

"Look how they are killing Muslims and no one seems to be bothered," said Akbar Ali, one of the protesters.

People shouted anti-Israel slogans during a rally near the Israel embassy in Moscow [EPA]

In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood called for nationwide mass protests. Hundreds of riot police were deployed around key mosques in Cairo in anticipation of the protests. Egyptian police also detained 40 members of the Muslim Brotherhood, security officials said.

Thousands of protestors were out in Istanbul to support the Palestinians and show their outrage at Israel.

In Australia, more than 4,000 people gathered in the Parry Park in Sydney. Five local mosques had closed, asking worshippers to attend the vigil instead of the traditional Friday prayers.

Ibrahim Abu Mohammad, a local imam, led the service, urging Israel to recognise a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and agree to a ceasefire.

"Israel is committing an act of terrorism. It's the duty of all the free people in the world to stand against it and stop this evil," he said.

Hundreds took to the streets of the Bangladesh capital Dhaka after the Friday prayers and in the Philippines, dozens of demonstrators gathered in Manila, accusing Israel of war crimes.

In the Pakistani capital Islamabad, demonstrators called on the Arab and Muslim world to stop what they called the massacre committed against the population of Gaza.

 Source: Agencies
Feedback Number of comments : 40
 
Historical Observer
United States
03/01/2009
Hypocritical protesting?
Why is there only protest for Israel response and not Hamas actions? Kind of ridiculous to endorse one type of violence but cry about the other?

AnyOne
United States
03/01/2009
R. Al-Othamn... You surely have spoken the truth..

Issa
United States
03/01/2009
Wake up Muslims
What can police do to Million of people, Nothing. Let us wake the Ummah and make coming friday, the day of millions resurction. Wallahi, there is nothing more these traitors love more than power and if they feel it is getting out of their hand, they will do everything my force. Wake up Muslims. Next friday, the day of Millions.

Raj
United States
03/01/2009
Regarding protestor agitation
My sympthy and condolences to all innocent civilians getting killed here. Why is Israel not dealing peacfully or through peace process, instead of just bombing. Also it is equal responsibility of Hamaz to live peacefully instead of attacking civilians on the Israel side. Every action will have reaction.

Victor
United States
03/01/2009
Go to Gaza
To the demonstrators, Go to Gaza and help the Palestinians directly. Your governments are controlled by politicians who only want to rule without concern for those who they rule. Your actions will help end this conflict. The Eygptians will let you pass to Gaza if you go en masse.

John Dofart
United States
03/01/2009
International outrage?
When Hamas rained rockets and motars on Israel there were no International ourage and condemnation on Hamas, not even a single word speak out against the rockets attacks. When Israel retaliates the International Communities pronounced condemnation on Israel. Such acts of hypocrisies from the International Communities. Not only Hamas are the enemies of Israel, the "International Communities" also!

Rasha
United States
03/01/2009
someone please wake this man!
One thing I always wondered about all of these people that get up each day and protest, some risking there live in the process (in Palestine). How have the Israelis not thought "why are millions of people thinking I'm wrong? "Are theAanti-israelis crazy? NO!! WAKE UP!!! All they want is to be treated like humans and to live their lives, is that so hard? Some thing that some of us complain about. while others risk it! they are passionate about living!!

K
Palestinian Territory
03/01/2009
Holocust or Genocide
If Israel did an air strike back in Nov. why wasn't made available to the American People so they could see that this was not Hamas who started this situation? Israel is looking to take over the middle east and knock everybody out so they can expand their their land. Why don't anyone see this? Are the American people so pro Israel that they don't see what is happening. The Palestinians just received word that they are going to be bombed. Where are they gonna go if the borders are closed?

Paradigm_Shift
United States
03/01/2009
to the first few who asked - why protest now
You ask a question that shows that you have bought into the Armageddonist propaganda fed to you which says that by disapproval of these massive bombing runs against Palestinian civilians and civil servants, that we support violence the other way around. Wrong wrong wrong. Peace, justice, respect for human dignity. That's what we believe in. If you don't know that, go back to school.

Mohammed Al-Naqeeb
Yemen
03/01/2009
Feedback
Why people protest? I think it is really a lame action to only protest, but it is the only way that people can express their anger about Israel's wild barbarian raids on Gaza and it is for the international community to understand that we stand by those who were punished because of others' actions. And I am sure that if Israel was on the other side, people in the world will do more than just a protest!

Ameer
Afghanistan
03/01/2009
Historical Observer
How is it hypocritical? They've been under siege and deprived from all necessities during the "cease-fire", and just because the Hamas party couldn't take it and fought for their people, it's terrorism? You're the hypocritical one right now. Think about it. Seems like you forgot about the blockade already. BTW what are Israeli supporters supposed to say? "CONTINUE TO FUND THE ISRAELI ARMY IN ORDER TO BOMB INNOCENT CIVILIANS!" Weird slogans, huh?

Hanno Langfelder
Germany
03/01/2009
A sense of proportion
Take a look at the statistics behind the whole conflict to understand the massive reaction by people all around the world to the latest Israeli attacks. 123 Israeli children have died since September 2000 in contrast to the 1,050 Palestinians children. The US sends Israel $ 6.8 million per day in aid, the Palestinians receives $ 0.3 million per day. Go to IfAmericansKnew.org and get a perspective!

kobi
Israel
03/01/2009
Where have you been for the last 8 years? My home bombed non-stop! In the last 6 months we had "ceasefire" with Hamas- which means 80/60 rockets fell on us per day, murdering innocent Israeli civilians & we couldn't reply to these attacks- there was a ceasefire, of course. We went out of Gaza, we talked with them & they elected in a free democratic way Iranian proxy- the Hamas An organization who has been elected to destroy Israel & murder Jews.

Said El kecha
Morocco
03/01/2009
feedback
Hi, First of all, thank you very much indeed for Aljazeera stations (Arbic and English) for broadcating and showing the tragic situation AS IT IS without any distortion. Of course,Some PEOPLE are bothered by the facts and realities being given by Aljazeera's heroes(CORRESPONDENTS). Unfortuntely, angry protests are held now not only against Israeli ongoing bombardment of GAZA but against the Arab regimes' silence and inability to stop the agression as well. Protests should continue anyway.

Israel Sucks
Israel
03/01/2009
Whats up with jews? Why arr they not letting men under 50 years in the Al-Aqsa mosque. I can go on for a page insulting Israelis. But it aint rite.

slim
France
03/01/2009
sionist are everywhere, who has nuclear weapon? is it israel or hamas? Who is inhuman and dangerous? Is it israel or hamas? 400 palestinians died 4 israelis died Who kill?

ezar khan
Afghanistan
03/01/2009
pls make nuclear bomb
pls make nuclear boms then only this zionish state will listen inshallah

Abdul Wahab
India
03/01/2009
Double Standards of US
On one hand the US taks about democracy & when the democratically elected Govt Hamas comes to power you don't recognise it. Those who are talking about the Rockets being fired at Israel should also consider that these rockets are retalliation for the day to day sufferings of Palestinians. Gaza & West Bank are world's largest prisons, here you can find people of all ages in one prison.

Naz
United Kingdom
03/01/2009
truth
This is same scenario as has occured time and time again. Innocent people killed in the name of israeli security. I dont even blame the israeli leaders or zionism anymore. They use media and clever words to mask their evilness so that the world is duped into the path of the devil. Their will always be evil people, as muslims we have to end our preoccupation with the material, our fear and look at who we accept as our leaders. We cant expect the international community to help, when have they?

KIWI
Great Britain (UK)
03/01/2009
Gaza
Please report that muslims and non-muslims in the UK have also been protesting today, I dont want the people of Gaza to assume westerners dont care what is happening because we do. Nor should Israel assume we support their actions.

BER DEFER
Ethiopia
03/01/2009
RESISTANCE
ALL PEOPLE UNDER OCCUPATION HAVE THE RIGHT FOR ARMED STRUGGLE. ALL HYPOCRITES JUSTIFY ISRAELI ACTIONS SAYING IT IS DEFENDING ITSELF. SO IS HAMAS. BUT AGRESSORS NEVER ACCEPTED RESISTANCE FOR WHAT IT IS. CALL IT WHAT YOU LIKE BUT HAMAS HAS LEGITMATE RIGHT TO FIGHT AGRESSION. YA GAZA,MAY ALLAH GIVE STRENGTH. AMMEN.

R. Al-Othamn
United States
03/01/2009
How sad that the riot police is engaging demonstrators in Amman? This reminds me of my teenage years in Amman in the 1970s where at the age of 14, I was beaten by the Badia police. The Arab armies and police have been extremely effective in crushing democracy and voices of dissent, but stood mute and incompetent facing Israel in 1948, 1967-1973. Shame on you and shame on your leaders. Israel is not the problem, but our thieves and thugs, the beggers for foreign bribes that have sold their soul to Zionism.

Lucas Burden
Australia
03/01/2009
Sydney Australia
I grew up in white middle class Australia. At school I was taught of all the crimes against jews. Meanwhile Israel was busy killing Palestinians and stealing their land. As an adult I have spent much time trying to find any justice and have found there has been none. I now sympathise with Palestine completely and I ask anyone reading from the west that supports Israel to find out the bloody facts! There will be a rally at Sydney town hall 2 pm this Sunday. Let's help free Palestine.

humanitarian
South Africa
03/01/2009
Destroy and Blame thats the game is Israel is playing.
Israel claims it is as a result of the many rockets launched from palestinian territory ,gaza, which are fired because the palestinians have nothing better to do other than persecute israelis.It has nothing to do with the dispossession of land? homes?It has nothing to do with an occupation that denies justice, dignity nor humanity?It has nothing to do with the collective punishment of a wholly innocent people who are denied water, food and medicines and oil?

qazi
United States
03/01/2009
Thou Shall Not Kill, PERIOD>
THOU SHALL NOT KILL, PERIOD. All followers of the three (3) great Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam believe in the Ten (10) Commandments. In our humble opinion, if anyone killed another innocent human being or himself, he is neither a Jew, nor a Christian, nor a Muslim, because he disobeyed one of the most important Commandments of Almighty God (Allah): Thou Shall Not Kill.

R from Atlanta, GA
United States
03/01/2009
Thousands have also mobilized in the United States to show solidarity with Palestinians. In Atlanta, Georgia, where I live, we have had two emergency demonstrations outside of the Israeli consulate involving hundreds of people. Tomorrow, we will have a demonstration outside of CNN Center to protest biased US coverage of the Israeli assault.

Lilian
Nigeria
03/01/2009
Most time I just wonder why everyone just decided to be distracted. The issue is Hamas here. Why is no one bold enough to say - Hamas stop your coward acts. If you want a fight , come out to the open and fight. Stop tucking behind your kids, wives and innocent civilians. That is cowardly. Any nation that think this is no big deal should tell the hamas to divert the rockets to their nation. Hamas puts the Palestinians in harms way. Lets demonstrate against Hamas for once.

Claudia Palmeira
Brazil
03/01/2009
Congratulations for your talent
I would like to express my admiration for the great job that all of you have been doing about Gaza offensive. Your journalists are brilliant, and I must say They are responsible for showing us the truth.

A.G
Yemen
03/01/2009
The time now, is not for talks and critics. We've done enough of that for the past 60 years. The time is for thinking and planning how we're going to get out of these crisises for good. What are we lacking? What is precisely the problem? Do, we, as individuals need to change? THINK, PLAN and IMPLEMENT. Let's go for it!

Ali
United Kingdom
03/01/2009
Hypocracy or Democracy??
The Arab nations must rise above their inner conflicts and unite, show the world that their pride and bravery still exists. Unfortunately Arab bravery is restricted to the history books of ancient times and can be hardly read in these times of needs. The time for meetings and matings is over. The muslim world needs actions from their leaders and is looking towards them is shock and awe. Its high time that Democracy is looked and given a serious thought.

chris
United States
03/01/2009
gaza massacre
Those who argue that Hamas missles are responsible for Israeli's "response" against Gaza ignore the fact that Hamas missles have always been launched in retaliation for Isreali attacks, assassinations, incursions, and raids against Hamas in Gaza or the West Bank. The US media frequently ignores/omits this fact.

Munaf
South Africa
03/01/2009
Why are all the arab contries quite? Are they sold to USA? Or, are they together with USA to finish MUSLIMS? Why USA only likes to interfer in ASIAN contries? USA trying to creat WAR beetween INDIA AND PAKISTAN also. Why the people dont understand that the biggest terrorist is USA it self. How many innocent peoples have they killed? I think people should get that the USA is the one which creats problems for whole word.

Jehan Noor
Sri Lanka
03/01/2009
Ya Allah pls help us..... you are our only hope...
Dear brothers & sisters, It's no point talking to deaf & dumb who are not listning to us. ... We should all protest in front of our own coward muslim country embassies to take action against this... We see that Israel is surrounded by muslim countries..but not a single country is bothered to take any action or protest... What a tragedy.. We are helpless simple people in Sri Lanka... Our hearts are burning. We'll try our best to protest against this... our only hope is our duas....

Ousman Lokid
United Kingdom
03/01/2009
>>Most time I just wonder why everyone just decided to be distracted. The issue is Hamas here Because they're using their brains. I hope you'll get your facts right, use your God given intellect rather than having propaganda shoved down your throat. Are you unaware of a blockage against Gaza where basic human dignity is non-existent? I guess it's nothing to have babies die due to lack of medicines and proper nutrition. Wake up and smell the onion. Get the shackles off your mind.

Lina
Indonesia
03/01/2009
Israel action first, not Hamas
Historical Observer who never learned about history, You seem never read literature about this. The Fact: Israel occupied Palestinian land. The Fact: Israel chased away alestinians from their land and their homes. The fact: Hamas won Palestinian election so Hamas has legitimation to offense Israel. Analogy: If you bought a home with your own money and you are the man of your family. Then some one take away your home and kill your family. What would you do? silent?

Khaled Ali
Afghanistan
03/01/2009
Arab govenments are sold out..
if the mature role players like Egypt and Saudi Arabia and Jordan condemn the Israel massacre of the civilians in Gaza! A change would come, but they are Against Hamas which have been chosen by a democratic voting close monitored by Jimmy Carter and western agencies. but USA Consider it a Terrorist organization and the Arab countries that i have mentioned above do go by the USA/Israel book because USA/guarantees and protect their seats in there own countries.

JOEL WAKAYIMA
Kenya
03/01/2009
PROTESTS OK, COUNTER BOMBING SILLY
WHILE I SUBSCRIBE TO THE SUGGESTION THAT BOTH ARABS AND THE ISRAELITES ARE WAR MONGERS I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY THE UN, FOR ALL ITS UBIQUITOUSNESS, HAS REMAINED IMPOTENT ON THE ISSUE OF GAZA. GOD FORBID!

Abdulrahman
United Kingdom
03/01/2009
Protesting is the least thing we can do.
We will pray, protest, and shout for the rights of our brothers and sisters who are unfortunately been seen like flies.

Bigmel1981
Malaysia
03/01/2009
Angry protests over Gaza offensive
Wake up Arab League !

david
Kenya
03/01/2009
weak arab leaders
palestinians are dying becouse of the interest of the neighbouring countries expecially egypt.the egyptian authority wants hamas out of the picture for their interest to continue and israel to exsist.

 
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