ISLAMABAD: Thousands attended the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) led Gaza Solidary March in Islamabad as Israeli occupation forces intensified aggression against the Palestinians, ARY News reported on Sunday.
JI Pakistan Ameer Sirajul Haq and several political and religious leaders addressed the Gaza Solidary March which was scheduled to be staged before the US Embassy, however, the authorities blocked the routes citing security concerns.
The administration has not allowed entry of the rally participants to the Srinagar Highway, a high-security zone. Later, the JI staged its protest at Aabpara Chowk.
Related: JI, police clash in Islamabad amid protest against Israel’s brutality
The participants of the public rally also heard the special message of the Hamas top leader Ismail Haniyeh.
JI Ameer Sirajul Haq said that they stand side-by-side with the Muslims in Gaza. He said that JI announced to hold a protest before the US Embassy but the US deputy secretary of the state contacted the Pakistani rulers to stop the protest.
He said that JI workers faced police baton charge and arrests before the protest. Haq announced to continue the series of protests against the Israeli barbaric moves against Palestinians across the country until an end to the war.
Related: Gaza escalation: Sirajul Haq announces protest outside US embassy
Sirajul Haq announced to organise a million march in Lahore on November 19.
The JI chief blamed the Muslim rulers for not fulfilling their responsibilities towards the Palestinians. He slammed the silence of the international community over the illegal occupation of Israel on Palestinian land, the martyrdom of over 250,000 Palestinians and the targeting of hospitals in Gaza.
Sirajul Haq said that Muslim rulers have a duty to save Gaza people and provide military and humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. The JI chief said that Pakistani nation donated over Rs1 billion to the Palestinians.
He said that Hamas fighters proved that war cannot be won by the technology and advanced weaponry but by the power of faith. He added that the Muslim rulers would be held accountable by their people if they failed to help Palestinians in Gaza.