Angry protests over Gaza offensive

Angry protests over Gaza offensive

Protesters clashed with riot police in Amman [Reuters]

People across several continents have staged rallies to protest against Israel's ongoing bombardment of Gaza.

Thousands of Palestinians demonstrated in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Friday, after calls by Hamas for a "day of wrath".

"We will sacrifice our soul and our blood for Gaza," chanted the demonstrators, shouting pro-Hamas slogans and calling on fighters to "hit Tel-Aviv".

In Jerusalem, protesters clashed with police after Friday prayers.

With a view to curb protests, Israel sealed off the West Bank for the day as well as key parts of Jerusalem. Men aged under 50 years were prohibited from entering the Al-Aqsa mosque.

In the Jordanian capital Amman, riot police fired teargas to push back hundreds of protesters marching towards the Israeli embassy. Several protesters were beaten and arrested by police, the news agency Reuters said.

More than 10,000 people marched through Indonesia's capital carrying banners and Palestinian flags. The demonstrators gathered in the city centre to pray for the
safety of Palestinians before marching to the US embassy, which was guarded by hundreds of police.

Protests were also held in other Indonesian cities after Friday prayers.

Extensive outrage

Demonstrations were held in Kabul and other cities in Aghanistan, where people expressed their disappointment with Arab leaders for their inability to take action towards Israel.

In Indian-administered Kashmir, hundreds burnt Israeli flags and chanted anti-Israel and anti-US slogans. They marched through the streets of the provincial capital Srinagar, carrying pro-Palestinian banners and portraits of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah.

"Look how they are killing Muslims and no one seems to be bothered," said Akbar Ali, one of the protesters.

People shouted anti-Israel slogans during a rally near the Israel embassy in Moscow [EPA]

In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood called for nationwide mass protests. Hundreds of riot police were deployed around key mosques in Cairo in anticipation of the protests. Egyptian police also detained 40 members of the Muslim Brotherhood, security officials said.

Thousands of protestors were out in Istanbul to support the Palestinians and show their outrage at Israel.

In Australia, more than 4,000 people gathered in the Parry Park in Sydney. Five local mosques had closed, asking worshippers to attend the vigil instead of the traditional Friday prayers.

Ibrahim Abu Mohammad, a local imam, led the service, urging Israel to recognise a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and agree to a ceasefire.

"Israel is committing an act of terrorism. It's the duty of all the free people in the world to stand against it and stop this evil," he said.

Hundreds took to the streets of the Bangladesh capital Dhaka after the Friday prayers and in the Philippines, dozens of demonstrators gathered in Manila, accusing Israel of war crimes.

In the Pakistani capital Islamabad, demonstrators called on the Arab and Muslim world to stop what they called the massacre committed against the population of Gaza.