Millions rally across world to mark International Quds Day amid continued Israeli aggression

Millions of people have attended Quds Day rallies across Iran and other Muslim countries to show their solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people and condemn Israeli atrocities. 

The rallies in Iran, organized by the Islamic Propagation Coordination Council (IPCC), started at 10 a.m. local time (0630 GMT) in Tehran and other cities across the country on Friday.

The demonstrators sought to communicate to the world the deplorable situation of the Palestinians and condemn Israeli atrocities which have intensified this year, especially since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. 

Ten routes were designated for the rallies throughout the Iranian capital, where people from all walks of life headed to the iconic Enqelab (revolution) Square. 

Every year on the last Friday of Ramadan, worldwide rallies are held to support the Palestinian people’s resistance against Israel and the struggle to liberate their territories which have been occupied since 1967

The annual event is seen as an opportunity for freedom-seeking people across the world, regardless of faith, to voice their support for the Palestinian cause and vent their anger at Israel.

The International Quds Day is among the legacies of the late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Khomeini, who is revered as a spiritual leader by Muslims across the world. Back in 1979, shortly after leading an Islamic Revolution which toppled the US-backed Shah of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini named the last Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan the Quds Day.

In their final communiqué in Tehran, the demonstrators described unity and solidarity within the Muslim world as the key to triumph over global arrogant powers and their conspiracies

The Axis of Resistance, it said, has confounded Zionists and driven the corrupt and far-right administration of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to despair.

"The child-killing regime is experiencing gradual deterioration, political instability as well as severe bipolarity," it said. 

"The unfolding developments across the Israeli-occupied territories and the reverse migration of Israeli settlers clearly show that the fake Zionist regime has reached an irreversible point of decline and is moving closer to collapse." 

The protesters also underscored the need to reinforce support for the anti-Israel resistance front, saying it is the only viable solution to resolve the Palestinian issue as the first and foremost issue of the Muslim world.

The statement went on to emphasize the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their lands from which they were expelled in 1948, and the rights of the Palestinians to hold a comprehensive and free referendum and determine their future political fate.

The demonstrators also condemned Israeli raids on the al-Aqsa Mosque compound and assaults on Palestinian worshipers, terming them as part of Tel Aviv's attempts to escape from the political and economic turmoil it is currently experiencing.

The statement touched on a new Intifada (uprising) in the making in the occupied West Bank, saying Israel is alarmed by the unity of Palestinian groups and the mass mobilization of young Palestinians to join resistance groups.

The participants also hailed retaliatory missile strikes by Palestinian resistance fighters, warning Israeli officials against committing any new blunder against the al-Aqsa Mosque.

"Any future desecration of the holy site would inflict a heavy price upon the Zionists, and a new military confrontation will accelerate the collapse and destruction of the racist and usurping Israeli regime," they said.

The protesters finally condemned the silence and inaction of international institutions and human rights institutions vis-à-vis the "barbaric" Israeli crimes, urging the United Nations to suspend Israel’s membership and subsequently expel the "occupying, racist and child-killing Zionist regime" from the world body and other international bodies.

Resistance leaders reiterate liberation of Palestine on Quds Day eve

The secretary general of Hezbollah says International Quds Day constitutes the main part of the struggle for liberation of Palestine.

Qalibaf: Resistance sole way for liberation of Palestine

Iran's Parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said resistance is the only way to achieve success and ultimate victory over Israel.

“The Quds Day is a very significant and influential day for the Muslim Ummah and Islamic countries. The Quds Day indicated that success and victory could be attained only through resistance,” he told demonstrators in Tehran.

Qalibaf said the global arrogance, including the US and Israel, had plotted to sink the Palestinian issue into oblivion with the help of Daesh terrorists, but the resistance front foiled such a conspiracy as the entire resistance forces rushed to protect Muslim territories and routed the violent terrorists.

“The issue of Palestine is still alive. Even in sports events, like the FIFA World Cup [in Qatar], we witnessed support for Palestine and the cause of Palestine. This support is not confined to Muslims, but is backed by all freedom-seeking people across the globe,” he said. 

Qalibaf also lauded retaliatory missile strikes, saying all Palestinian groups have closed ranks to liberate l-Quds, which he described as the capital of the Muslim world.

He said Israeli attempts to normalize ties with Muslims and force them to concede defeat have backfired, as Islam has achieved glory and dignity.

Israel, he added, made vain attempts to portray Iran and the resistance front as a threat to Muslim countries, but the conspiracy ended in abject failure.

Since the start of the holy month of Ramadan, Israel has imposed strict restrictions on the entry and exit of Palestinians to and from the gates of al-Aqsa Mosque. Amid heightened tensions with Palestinian worshipers, Israeli settlers also press ahead with their frequent incursions and provocative rituals at the holy site.

The resistance movements in Gaza and elsewhere have vowed to confront the Israeli regime on multiple fronts. 

International Quds Day: Iran urges Muslim unity to counter Israel, support Palestine

Iran’s Foreign Ministry urges Muslim states to cement unity to counter the Israeli regime and support the oppressed Palestinian people.

On April 6, at least 30 rockets were reportedly launched from southern Lebanon into the Israeli-occupied territories in retaliation for the Israeli aggression against al-Aqsa. Resistance fighters based in Gaza also fired several rockets toward the occupied territories.

Palestinian sources said Israel's Iron Dome failed to intercept most of the rockets. Following the retaliatory attack, Israeli warplanes hit targets inside Gaza and positions of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas in Lebanon.

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