Thousands of supporters of Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement have staged a massive rally in Beirut in protest at US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as the" capital" of Israel.
The protesters on Monday marched through south Beirut, carrying flags and holding banners reading "Jerusalem is the Eternal Capital of Palestine" and "Jerusalem is Ours." They also chanted slogans such as "Death to America!" and "Death to Israel!"
Iman Ghadbun, 28, attending the protest with her seven-year-old daughter, said "Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine and will be until Judgment Day."
"When the world stands together Trump has to change his mind, right?" Hassan Mousa, a 28 year-old photographer said, adding, “We're the children of Hezbollah, of course we're ready to fight.”
The rally was held under tight security and passed without any incident of violence. This came a day after a protest turned violent near the US embassy on the outskirts of Beirut.
Demonstrators burnt tires as well as the US and Israeli flags as they pushed to break through a barbed wire erected by security forces around the embassy complex. Security forces used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the angry protesters.
Addressing the massive gathering, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said that the recent decision by Trump to formally recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as the capital of Israel had made the United States and the White House isolated in the world.
Pointing to massive protest rallies held in all countries across the world, the Hezbollah leader thanked all participants, inviting them to continue their protests in all manners possible, including through the cyberspace and on social media.
Trump sparked international outrage on Wednesday, when he declared that Washington was recognizing Jerusalem al-Quds as the “capital” of Israel and that he had instructed his administration to begin the process of moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to the ancient city.