World Stands with Gaza: Protests in Several Countries
Thousands of people, in response to the ongoing war and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, held protests and demonstrations in several countries including Australia, France, Turkey, and Tunisia.
In Sydney, protesters held Palestinian flags and expressed their support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Salim Morali, one of the Australian protesters, said: “He’s my best mate and we are together just to show that this is my family, this is my child – if that was my child in Gaza, I never want to dream of that situation. We are seeing it right in front of us right now and nothing is happening.”
Another Australian protester said: “it’s really important to send a unified message. Disruption, genocide and starving of completely innocent people is not on. I hope that more countries, especially our own, recognize an independent Palestinian State.”
In Tunisia, hundreds gathered in the capital’s streets to show solidarity with the Palestinian people and protest the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Protesters chanted anti-Israel slogans and criticized the silence of Arab countries in the face of Gaza’s critical conditions.
Lotfi Miloudi, one of the protesters in Tunisia, said: “Hunger in Gaza has reached rock bottom. The Palestinian people are starving to death. They are being deliberately starved by the Zionists and by some Arab states.”
Sondos Gheriani, another protester in Tunisia, added: “Arab countries must do more. Protests are important; silence has never helped. Even if we cannot provide financial aid, at least our voices must be heard.”
Loyer Noel Toumi, a protester in Tunisia, added: “(Egyptian President) Sissi is the enemy of God! Gaza is fighting for what? For religion, for the Prophet, for our land, the land of Islam. He closed the tunnels after his coup, starving our people in Gaza. Anyone who fights Islam is the enemy of God!”
These protests come at a time when the humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached a critical and disastrous stage, with international organizations warning of a possible official declaration of famine if access to food, water, and humanitarian aid remains blocked throughout the Gaza Strip.
