Pakistani religious parties announce Gaza rally at Lahore's Iconic Minar-e-Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: The chief of Pakistan's main religious-political party, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam F (JUI-F), said on Monday the JUI-F and other religious parties would stage a protest rally in solidarity with Palestinians at the iconic Minar-e-Pakistan monument in Lahore on Apr. 27.
The move follows a Gaza Solidarity March organized by another religio-political party, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), on a main road connecting Islamabad and Rawalpindi last week that was attended by thousands.
'A very big rally will be held at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore on Apr. 27 along with a protest,' JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Monday at a press conference in Lahore alongside JI chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman.
'We all will participate along with other religious parties. We are forming a new platform now by the name of Majlis-e-Ittehad-e-Ummat.'
He also said nationwide awareness campaigns would be launched by the platform to boycott Israeli products.
Separately, the JI has announced a nationwide strike on Apr. 26 in solidarity with Palestine and urged citizens to boycott brands that support Israel amid its ongoing military offensive in Gaza.
Pakistan does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel and has for decades condemned its military actions in Gaza.
Islamabad has called for the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave and a revival of negotiations toward a two-state solution. The country has long supported the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Since October 7, 2023, when Israel launched its latest military assault on Gaza, more than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 116,000 injured.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
4 hours ago
- Arab News
Thousands of demonstrators march through Rome to call for an immediate end to the war in Gaza
ROME: Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets of Rome on Saturday against the war in Gaza in a protest called by Italy's main opposition parties, who accuse the right-wing government of being too silent. Protesters held a banner reading 'Stop the massacre, stop complicity!' at the start of the march, which moved peacefully through the center of Rome amid a massive display of rainbow, Palestinian and political party flags. The protest attracted a diverse crowd from across the country, including many families with children. According to organizers, up to 300,000 people participated in the rally organized by the leftist opposition to ask the government for a clear position on the conflict in Gaza. 'This is an enormous popular response to say enough to the massacre of Palestinians and the crimes of (Israeli leader Benjamin) Netanyahu's government,' the leader of Italy's center-left Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, told reporters at the march. 'There is another Italy that doesn't remain silent as the Meloni government does,' she said, referring to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Meloni was recently pushed by the opposition to publicly condemn Netanyahu's offensive in Gaza, but many observers considered her criticism too timid. '(The Italian government) is not reacting despite an abnormal massacre, despite an absolutely cruel and inappropriate reaction. The (Italian) government remains silent,' said Nadin Unali, a Tunisian demonstrator at the march. Earlier this week, the Italian premier urged Israel to immediately halt its military campaign in Gaza, saying its attacks had grown disproportionately and should be brought to an end to protect civilians. Israel faces mounting international criticism for its offensive and pressure to let aid into Gaza during a humanitarian crisis. Gaza has been under an Israeli blockade for nearly three months, with experts warning that many of its 2 million residents are at high risk of famine. The war broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 hostages. They are still holding 56 hostages, around a third of them believed to be alive. Since then, Israel has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians in its military campaign, primarily women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its figures.
Saudi Gazette
5 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Crown Prince calls on international community to end Israeli aggression on Gaza
Saudi Gazette report MINA — Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman reaffirmed the role of the international community in ending the disastrous repercussions of the Israeli aggression on Gaza. He made the remarks while addressing the annual reception for heads of state, leaders of countries and distinguished dignitaries performing Hajj this year at the Royal Court of Mina Palace on Saturday. The Crown Prince delivered the speech on behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman. "This blessed Eid Al-Adha comes while our brothers in Palestine continue to suffer as a result of the ongoing Israeli aggression. We emphasize the role of the international community in ending the disastrous repercussions of this aggression, as well as in protecting innocent civilians, and working toward a new reality where Palestine can enjoy peace in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions," he said. At the outset of the speech, the Crown Prince said: "It is our pleasure, from the vicinity of the Sacred House of God, to congratulate you and all Muslims around the world on the blessed Eid Al-Adha. We ask God Almighty to accept the pilgrims' Hajj and good deeds," he said. The Crown Prince highlighted Saudi Arabia's lofty position in serving Islam and Muslims, especially the Hajj pilgrims. "God Almighty has honored this country with the service of the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors, including Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and visitors. Saudi Arabia has placed this at the forefront of its priorities, devoting all its capabilities to serving the guests of God and facilitating performance of their rituals in ease and comfort," he said while reaffirming that Saudi Arabia, with God's help and guidance, will continue this endeavor, recognizing the great responsibility and honor of service. "We ask God Almighty to perpetuate security and stability in our country, and in all Muslim countries and across the world, and to accept the Hajj of the pilgrims to the Sacred House of God, and enable them return safely to their families," the Crown Prince added. The reception was attended by several eminent Islamic figures, guests of the King, guests of government agencies, heads of delegations, and pilgrim affairs offices. The dignitaries included President of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, President of Maldives Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, Vice President of Benin Mariam Chabi Talata Zimi Berima; and former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. Minister of Hajj and Umrah and Chairman of the Hajj Guests Service Program Committee Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Secretary General of the Muslim World League for Jerusalem and Palestine and Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Sheikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Hussein, and Syrian Minister of Endowments Sheikh Mohammed Abu al-Khair Shukri also spoke on the occasion. In his speech Al-Rabiah highlighted the most notable achievements of this year's Hajj season, including the implementation of 46 new energy projects with a total cost of over SR3 billion, as well as several projects in the transport and health sectors. This is in addition to several infrastructure projects with more than 300,000 square meters of shaded areas and updating of the Nusuk app to provide more than 130 digital services and streamlining of the Nusuk Masar digital platform.
Saudi Gazette
14 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Thai hostage recovered from southern Gaza in military operation
JERUSALEM — The body of a Thai hostage, Nattapong Pinta, who was abducted alive during the October 7 attacks was recovered from southern Gaza in a military operation on Friday, according to a statement from the Israeli military and the Shin Bet security service. The announcement comes just days after Israel recovered the bodies of two Israeli-American hostages from Gaza. Pinta, 35, was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel where he had been working in agriculture, according to an Israeli military official, who said it is estimated that he was killed during the first months of captivity. Pinta was a husband and father working in Israel to support his family in Thailand, the official said. 'We will not rest until all the hostages, living and deceased, are returned home,' Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement. Pinta was abducted by the Mujahideen, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said, a militant group that took part in the Hamas-led attack on Israel. The IDF said it is the same organization that kidnapped the Bibas family and killed Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas, the mother and two young sons who became the most prominent among Hamas' captives. Earlier this week, Israel announced that the bodies of Judy Winston-Haggai, 70, and Gadi Haggai, 72, were recovered from southern Gaza. The two were also taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz. The couple had four children and seven retrieval of Pinta's body comes with an intense Israeli operation underway in Gaza, with the Civil Defense reporting at least 38 people were killed in Israeli attacks on IDF said four soldiers were killed and five wounded early Friday morning when an explosive was detonated in a building in Khan Younis in which they were operating, causing part of the structure to collapse.A total of 55 hostages remain in Gaza, including one taken in 2014. Twenty are believed to be still the 251 people taken hostage by Hamas militants on October 7, many were migrant workers from poor rural parts of Asia, who had gone to work in Israel's agricultural, construction and health care sectors to send money back home. — CNN
