Thousands of people marched today, Friday, in squares and streets across many Arab capitals including Baghdad, Amman, Damascus, and Tehran, in support of Palestinians and in condemnation of Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, marking the seventh day of the war between Israel and Hamas. In Lebanon, several solidarity events were organized, including one in front of the Mohammed Al-Amin Mosque in downtown Beirut under the slogan "Beirut, Lebanon, Palestine," at the invitation of the "Council of Scholars and Educators in Lebanon." Hezbollah also organized a solidarity rally at the Imam Al-Mujtaba complex in Hadath.
Hezbollah's Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem emphasized during the solidarity event that the party is concerned with the battle of resistance and liberation, asserting that "the entire nation must be concerned and participate with whatever they have in this confrontation." He stated, "Your warships do not matter to us, nor do your statements scare us, and we will be on guard so that resistance remains." Qassem noted that there have been communications from major countries, Arab nations, and UN envoys, both directly and indirectly, advising them not to intervene, and he said, "We support and are ready, and we are following the battle of 'Al-Aqsa Flood' moment by moment, and when the time for any action comes, we will proceed." He asserted that "the resistance shines day by day; we are in the time of victories, not defeats, so expect anything." He warned Israel, saying, "You are heading towards your demise, and after this war, you will see that you face a huge force around the world supporting Palestine."
In Jordan, witnesses reported that Jordanian riot police forcibly dispersed hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters attempting to reach a border area with the West Bank while thousands organized anti-Israel demonstrations across the country. Witnesses indicated that police used tear gas to halt around 500 demonstrators who had reached a security checkpoint outside the capital, Amman, on a highway leading to a major border crossing. The Interior Ministry had banned organizing anti-Israel gatherings in this sensitive border area, stating that the Jordan Valley is closed to protesters but that demonstrations would be permitted in other locations.
Several thousand protesters near downtown Amman chanted slogans in support of Hamas and demanded the government close the Israeli embassy and annul the peace treaty signed with Israel in 1994. Thousands took to the streets in the cities of Irbid and Zarqa, waving Hamas flags and threatening revenge against Israel, calling on the armed group governing Gaza to escalate attacks.
