KARACHI: Thousands rallied in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi on Saturday night to express solidarity with the victims of war-afflicted Gaza, with protest leaders demanding an immediate ceasefire in Palestine amid Israel’s relentless assaults in Palestine.
Organized by Pakistan’s right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami party, the “Gaza Solidarity Night” march commenced after Tarawih prayers— special Ramadan prayers offered at night— and extended until the pre-dawn sehri meal. Donations gathered for the people of Palestine from marchers totaled Rs175 million ($630,459.38), the JI said.
Israel has killed over 31,000 Palestinians since the war began on Oct. 7 last year and wounded approximately 72,000 more in air and ground offensives. The Jewish state has ignored ceasefire calls from Washington, Muslim countries and peace activists around the world, triggering protest marches and boycotts of brands associated with Israel in many parts of the globe.
“An immediate ceasefire should be implemented, and relief should be provided to the oppressed Palestinians,” Naeem-ur-Rehman, leader of the JI’s Karachi chapter, spoke passionately at the rally. He added that the Israeli army had resorted to bombing civilians after suffering setbacks on the battlefield.
“We will raise our voices and use the power of social media,” Rehman vowed. “We will also collect funds for Palestinians.”
He said it was the Pakistani state’s responsibility to spend on aid for Palestinians, asking for Islamabad’s help in providing treatment to the injured people of Gaza.
Naveed Ali Baig, another JI leader, said people were rallying to push the world for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“This is how Karachiites feel about the Palestinian cause,” Baig told Arab News, pointing to what he said were “tens of thousands” of people in the protest. “Everybody is concerned and everybody wants to stop this war.”
Rida Fatima, a young protester, said she had arrived with her family to demonstrate her support for the people of Gaza.
“Today thousands have gathered for our Palestinian brothers and sisters who are struggling and sleeping hungry,” she told Arab News.
Sobia Shaikh, another rally-goer, said she had brought her children to the rally to help them understand the challenging circumstances Palestinians were enduring.
“Their homes have been destroyed and children are left starving,” Shaikh told Arab News. “There’s no food available. A genocide is happening with minimal intervention from the international community.”
She regretted the lack of action on the part of world leaders to put an end to the war in Gaza.
“Palestinians deserve to live, their children deserve a chance at life,” she said. “They should be allowed to lead a dignified life. There is the need for an immediate ceasefire and the initiation of large-scale relief operations.”
