Photo Review

Worldwide Condemnation of Israel's Crimes in Gaza

People all over the world are demonstrating to support the people of Palestine and condemn Israel's indiscriminate bombing of Gaza, its impossible demand that 1.1 million residents of northern Gaza evacuate to the south within 24 hours, and their potential ground invasion. The UN reported 423,000 people in Gaza had been displaced. As of October 13, the UN reports that 1,800 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli airstrikes. All of Israel's attacks on civilians in Gaza and elsewhere, including Palestinians attempting to flee within Gaza or to Egypt, on UN personnel, medical personnel, and hospitals are collective punishment and are considered war crimes and crimes against humanity under international law.

Armed resistance is taking place in the West Bank as well. In Nablus, resistance fighters opened fire at Israeli soldiers in the Jabal Subeih area of Beita town. Angry protests were also held in different areas of Jenin, condemning the Israeli bloody crimes against the Gaza Strip and the international community's shameful silence. Violent confrontations, meanwhile, broke out in the vicinity of the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Salem military camp, west of Jenin, in protest against the Israeli aggression on Gaza. Similar clashes also erupted in al-Khalil, amid the heavy use of live ammunition. As of October 14 a total of 54 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli army gunfire in the occupied West Bank in the past week, according to its Health Ministry, including children killed and injured.

Israel has launched missile strikes on Syria's two main airports in Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo, knocking both out of service, Syrian state media reported.

Thousands of people demonstrated in Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Tunisia, Libya with the largest demonstrations being held across the Middle East, as protesters took to the streets, pledging their souls and lives for Palestine. From Morocco to Istanbul, Baghdad to Beirut, Tehran to Sanaa passionate protests shook the region, showing total rejection of the notion of normalization of ties with Israel. City centres and squares filled with rousing crowds calling for the immediate end of the siege of Gaza and calling for a global "day of rage."

Iraq's "Prayer for Palestine" gathered about a million people in Tahrir Square in Baghdad.

Mass protests in support of Palestine erupted in Jordan's capital Amman. Hundreds of thousands rallied shouting, "They say Hamas are terrorists -- All Jordan Is Hamas!" Jordanian security forces reportedly prevented hundreds of protesters from reaching the Jordan-Israel border, firing heavy teargas canisters at protesters. Jordan has a 238-kilometre border with Israel and two different crossings. Jordan's Interior Ministry had earlier declared that no demonstrations in the Jordan Valley and border region would be allowed. In various areas, Jordanian security clashed with protesters, firing teargas at the crowds.

In Malaysia and Indonesia, the most populous Muslim nation in the world, massive mobilizations of the people are taking place in support of the Palestinian people. In Indonesia people attended Friday prayers in large numbers where the Imams delivered sermons on the situation in Gaza and made special prayers for the people of Palestine.

In India, slogans of Long Live Palestine! and Gaza Will Never Die! also rang out loud and clear in support of the Palestinian people. In some areas the Indian Government prevented the holding of prayers in Mosques in an effort to keep the Indian people from rallying and expressing their support.

In Pakistan, in response to moves to establish closer relations with Israel, protesters burned the Israeli flag and protested in large numbers.

In cities across Europe thousands-strong solidarity rallies and marches were also held, including in Geneva, Switzerland; Copenhagen, Denmark; Turin, Italy; and Dublin, Republic of Ireland. In Spain protests took place in Madrid and in the cities of Barcelona, Zaragoza, Malaga, and Reus Catalunya. Tens of thousands rallied in London on October 14 under heavy police surveillance, decrying the British government's support for Israel. In Paris, France police used tear gas and water cannon against a rally October 12 following orders by the French Interior Minister to ban all pro-Palestine demonstrations in the name of "public order."