‘Day of rage’ in Arabmuslim world
In Gaza, calls for worshippers to protest sounded over mosque loudspeakers and dozens of youths burnt tyres on the main streets of the enclave, controlled by Hamas
Jerusalem:thousandsofpalestinians demonstrated, scores were hurt and at least one killed in clashes with Israeli troops on a “day of rage” on Friday against US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Across the Arab and Muslim worlds, thousands more demonstrators took to the streets, expressing solidarity with the Palestinians and outrage at Trump’s reversal of decades of US policy.
Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian man near the Gaza border, the first confirmed death in two days of unrest.
The Israeli army said hundreds of Palestinians were rolling burning tyres and throwing rocks at soldiers across the border.
More than 80 Palestinians were wounded in the occupied West Bank and Gaza by Israeli live fire and rubber bullets, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance service.
Dozens more suffered from tear gas inhalation.
As Friday prayers ended at the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, worshippers made their way toward the walled Old City gates, chanting “Jerusalem is ours, Jerusalem is our capital,” and “We don’t need empty words, we need stones and Kalashnikovs”.
Some scuffles broke out between protesters and police.
In Hebron, Bethlehem and Nablus, dozens of Palestinians threw stones at Israeli soldiers who fired back with tear gas.
In Gaza, controlled by the Islamist group Hamas, calls for worshippers to protest sounded over mosque loudspeakers.
Hamas has called for a new Palestinian uprising like the “intifadas” of 1987-1993 and 20002005 that together saw thousands of Palestinians killed.
“We declare an intifada until the liberation of Jerusalem and all of Palestine,” said Hamas leader Fathy Hammad as protesters in Gaza burnt posters of Trump.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Friday it would still be up to the Israelis and Palestinians to hammer out all other issues surrounding the city in future talks.
“With respect to the rest of Jerusalem, the president ... did not indicate any final status for Jerusalem. He was very clear that the final status, including the borders, would be left to the two parties to negotiate and decide.”
In Iran, which has never recognised Israel and supports anti-israel militants, demonstrators burned pictures of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while chanting “Death to the Devil”.
In Cairo, capital of Egypt, a US ally which has a peace treaty with Israel, hundreds of protesters who had gathered in Al-azhar mosque and outside in its courtyard chanted “Jerusalem is Arab! O Trump, you madman, the Arab people are everywhere!”
Large demonstrations also took place in Jordan, Tunisia, Somalia, Yemen, Malaysia and Indonesia.
HAFIZ SAEED LEADS RALLY IN PAKISTAN Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed on Friday made his first public appearance after being freed from house arrest and led a rally in Lahore to launch a countrywide campaign against Trump’s decision.
The Jammat-ud-dawah chief, who carries a bounty of $10 million, said the Defence Council Pakistan (DCP) will send its delegations to Muslim countries and convince them not to open their embassies in Jerusalem as he led the rally outside the JUD headquarters in Chauburji after the Friday prayers.
“Any Muslim country if opens its consulate in Jerusalem should be barred from opening their embassies in the Muslim countries,” Saeed suggested.
He said the Muslim countries should unite against the US.