Thousands of people rallied in Tehran and Baghdad today in support of the Palestinians, in the seventh day of a bloody war that has erupted between Israel and the Islamist Palestinian movement Hamas since Hamas gunmen invaded Israeli territory last Saturday and killed civilians.
In Tehran, protesters carried Iranian, Palestinian and Hezbollah flags, chanted slogans and held up banners reading "Down with America" and "Down with Israel", an AFP reporter found.
Similar rallies are taking place in other Iranian cities, where protesters have burned American and Israeli flags.
Tehran, which financially and militarily backs Hamas militants, a movement designated as a terrorist group by the US and the European Union, has called on Islamic and Arab countries in the region to form a united front against Israel.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian began a regional tour today, traveling to Iraq to rally allies of the Islamic Republic.
He warned Israel that "new fronts" may open against this country if it does not stop bombing Gaza.
In Baghdad, protesters gathered in Tahrir Square, in the heart of the Iraqi capital, chanting “No to occupation! Not in America!"
The rally was held after a call by Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr "in support of Gaza" and against Israel. Protesters held Palestinian and Iraqi flags while a huge Israeli flag was spread on the ground for protesters to trample on, according to an AFP photographer.
"This demonstration aims to denounce what is happening in occupied Palestine, the bloodshed and the violation of rights," Abu Kayan, an organizer of the demonstration and a member of Sadr's movement, told AFP.
Around Tahrir Square, Moqdada Sadr's movement imposed tight security measures. Heavy Iraqi security forces were also deployed in the demonstration area.
Moqdada Sadr belongs to the political opposition, but the Gaza support movement has the explicit support of the Iraqi government, as there is a consensus in Iraq in favor of the Palestinian cause.
The Iraqi government, which is backed by a parliamentary majority of parties close to Hamas ally Iran, said Saturday's attack on Israel by the Islamist Palestinian movement was the "natural result of systematic oppression" to which the Palestinians "on the side of the Zionist occupation".
Source: APE-MPE – AFP