Amid Israel’s ongoing war on Hamas in Gaza, following the terror attacks that have, so far, claimed over 1,300 lives and left more than 3,300 injured, locals in Hyderabad, and elsewhere, staged protests in support of Palestine after offering Friday prayers.
Holding up placards, local youth in Hyderabad chanted slogans against the ongoing Israeli counter-offensive in Gaza. Massing in a street after the Friday prayers, the protesters chanted “Gaza will never die” and “Long live Palestine”.
As the numbers swelled, a police contingent arrived at the scene and went about breaking up the protest and removing the demonstrators from the spot. A similar protest was also organised at Budgam in Jammu & Kashmir, with the demonstrators chanting slogans against Israel and America.
A huge crowd gathered at the spot, lending chorus to the noisy protests after the Friday prayers.
“We stand with Palestine” were among the slogans that rent the air in the picturesque Budgam district on October 13. Protests against the ongoing Israeli air raids in Gaza were also organised in Lucknow after the Friday prayers.
#WATCH | J&K: Anti America-Israel slogans raised in Budgam after Friday prayers amid the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. pic.twitter.com/JcoITpu2DA
— ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2023
Speaking to media, at the scene of the protest, Kalbe Jawab, a local cleric, railed against Israel accusing it of committing war crimes on civilians in Palestine. The cleric also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and bring a halt to hostilities in Gaza.
“Innocent people are being slaughtered in this war. Almost 1.5 lakh Palestinians have been killed in this war. The world powers should come together to save innocent lives and ensure that the hostilities end,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Israeli defence forces armed with tanks positioned themselves on the country’s southern border with Gaza after the military on Friday called for the evacuation of all civilians from the besieged Gaza City. The Israeli Defence Forces asked civilians to relocate from their homes and move to the area south of the Wadi Gaza for their own safety. The IDF stated that citizens should return only when advised to do so.
It also asked citizens to not approach the area on the security fence with Israel.
In a statement shared on X, IDF stated, “The IDF calls for the evacuation of all civilians of Gaza City from their homes southwards for their own safety and protection and move to the area south of the Wadi Gaza, as shown on the map. The Hamas terrorist organisation waged a war against the State of Israel and Gaza City is an area where military operations take place. This evacuation is for your own safety.”
IDF announcement sent to civilians of Gaza City:
The IDF calls for the evacuation of all civilians of Gaza City from their homes southwards for their own safety and protection and move to the area south of the Wadi Gaza, as shown on the map.
The Hamas terrorist organization…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 13, 2023
The Israeli Defence Forces asserted that they will continue to operate with “significant force” in Gaza and make extensive efforts to avoid harming civilians. Meanwhile, Hamas dismissed Israel’s orders for Palestinians to evacuate the northern half of the Gaza Strip, asking the residents to stay put, the Times of Israel reported.
At least 1,537 Palestinians have been killed and 6,612 others injured in the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza, CNN reported citing the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza. At least 36 people have died and more than 650 injured in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah.
United Nations Secretary-General spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said more than 338,000 Palestinians have been displaced amid the ongoing Israeli counter-offensive, CNN reported. He further said that nearly 218,000 of those displaced are sheltered in 92 schools run by the UN Relief and Works Agency.
(with inputs from ANI)
