Conflicts & War

Iran rises in support of Palestine on last Friday of Ramadan

By Jaime Leon

Tehran, Apr 29 (EFE).- Hundreds of thousands of Iranians marched on Friday in most of the country’s cities in support of the “liberation” of Palestine, amid the latest clashes in Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque compound, on the final Friday of Ramadan.

A large crowd marched through the streets of the Iranian capital to chants of “we will recover Jerusalem”, “Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Palestine”, “death to Israel” and “death to the United States” near the University of Tehran.

The rally was held in a festive atmosphere, children played with balloons and many were spotted dressed as pink rabbits.

At one point some protestors were seen hurling darts at pictures of United States President Joe Biden, Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

Demonstrators celebrated the Quds (Jerusalem) Day, which was established in 1979 by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as an annual event that takes place on the last Friday of Ramadan to express the nation’s support for Palestine.

Both the Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian participated in the Tehran march, while Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called for the liberation of Palestine in a statement.

“Given the great sacrifices of the Palestinian people and the increase in Zionists’ viciousness and crimes, this year’s Quds Day is different from previous years, and everybody must express their sympathy and solidarity with the oppressed yet powerful people of Palestine, in order to lift their spirit and power,” the supreme leader told University students at a Thursday event.

The head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami, called in a speech at the University of Tehran for resistance against Israel, saying the enemy only understood the language of force.

The military used the gathering to display the 1,450 km range Kheibar Shekan ballistic missile, which was announced last February but had not yet been shown in public.

This year’s Quds Day comes after an uptick in violence in Palestine, where, since late March, several attacks in Israeli territory have resulted in 14 deaths.

On Friday, over 40 Palestinians were injured during fresh clashes with Israeli Police in the Al-Aqsa mosque compound.

The Al-Aqsa mosque compound, within the walls of the Old City in occupied East Jerusalem, is the third holiest place in Islam and the most sacred for Jews, who call it Temple Mount.EFE

jlr/ch/eld

Related Articles

Back to top button