Media reports – October 9, 2023
Arab & Muslim reaction to Israel-Hamas conflict
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it is “closely following” the situation between Palestinian and Israeli forces, and called for “an immediate halt to the escalation between the two sides." Saudi Arabia also called for the international community to try and create a two-state solution to build peace in the area.
Qatar: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs holds Israel alone responsible for the current escalation due to its ongoing violence of the rights of the Palestinian people, the latest of which is the repeated raids on the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli police,” they wrote in a public statement.
State officials urged the international community to ask Israel to stop “its blatant violation of international law.”
The United Arab Emirates: The UAE expressed grave concern over the escalation of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, stressed the need to de-escalate and spare civilian lives, and offered sincere condolences to all victims of the recent hostilities.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed in a statement that the UAE calls for the exercise of maximum restraint and an immediate ceasefire to avoid serious repercussions.
The Ministry pointed out that the United Arab Emirates, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, calls for the immediate reactivation of the Quartet to revive the Arab-Israeli peace process, and urges the international community to advance all efforts to achieve a comprehensive and just peace, and to prevent the region from being dragged into new levels of violence, tension and instability.
Bahrain: Foreign Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “The Kingdom of Bahrain is closely following the developments taking place between Palestinian groups and Israeli forces, leading to an increase in violence and armed attacks that claimed the lives of a number of people and injured others. It stresses the need for de-escalation among all parties to preserve the lives of people.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns that the continuation of violence will impede the efforts aiming at achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, calling upon the international community to take its role in ending the armed conflict and protecting civilians in line with the international humanitarian law, in addition to supporting the peace process and establishing the Palestinian state according to the two-state solution and other international legitimacy resolutions.
Iranian reaction: Iran’s foreign ministry said that the Hamas group acted in self defense when it attacked Israel, and vocalized their support for the group.
“This operation ... is the spontaneous movement of resistance groups and Palestine's oppressed people in defense of their inalienable rights and their natural reaction to the Zionists' warmongering and provocative policies,” Iranian spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said adding that Israel’s supporters are responsible for the “violence and killing against Palestinians” and asked Islamic countries to support them.
Iran’s role in the most recent attack is unclear, but the Biden administration has claimed that Tehran has provided funding and weapons to the Hamas group, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Türkiye to do its part to stop Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Erdoğan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Sunday Türkiye is ready to do its part to stop the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, reduce escalated tensions.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the St. Ephrem Syriac Ancient Orthodox Church, the first-ever church built in Türkiye's century-long history as a republic.
President Erdoğan also urged realization of an independent, geographically integrated Palestinian state based on 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital.
Earlier Saturday, Türkiye called on both Israelis and Palestinians to act with restraint in light of the growing violence.
"We call on the parties to act with restraint in light of the events in Israel this morning and to stay away from impulsive steps that will escalate tensions, President Erdoğan said in the capital Ankara.
"Türkiye will continue to oppose any attempt against the Al-Aqsa Mosque," the Turkish president added.
The Foreign Ministry, in the meanwhile, said Türkiye was deeply concerned over the violence in Israel and Palestine, saying that the restoration of peace in region crucial.
It continued by saying that Türkiye is ready to contribute to ensure the situation in Israel and Palestine does not escalate further, while calling on both parties to give up use of force and work on a permanent solution for peace without further delay.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed the ongoing tensions with regional and international counterparts.
He discussed the matter with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Furhan al-Saud, Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki, and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
He also held a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss the ongoing developments, diplomatic sources said.
Ankara supports a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, including the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Despite the recent rapprochement with Israel, Turkish officials continue to criticize Israel’s policies targeting Palestinians, including the illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Türkiye has said there would be no change to Ankara’s position toward the Palestinians despite the normalization efforts with Israel.
South Africa
Several hundred members of the Muslim community in Cape Town have joined the solidarity with Palestinians as islamist movement Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel in years on Saturday. The gathering to voice support for the Palestinian people was held on Sunday at the Al Quds mosque, Cape Town.
"Recently, we saw how the Zionists act against Christians, so it is not only a muslim issue. It’s a matter of human rights. It’s a matter of where the rights of others are being violated and to the extent where they cannot live freely their religion" says Moulana Abdul Khaliq Ebrahim Allie, President, United Ulema Council South Africa.
The attack, a surprise assault combined gunmen from the palestinian Hamas crossing the border with a heavy barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government has formally declared war and launched significant retaliatory military steps.
"South Africa's liberation movement "was also forced... to take up arms to have an impact" said Shaykh Shahid Esau, a former member of the South African parliament.
During the apartheid era, "the world community was called on to have sanctions against South Africa and we find the very same Western countries that supported South Africa during the apartheid regime...they are the very same people that are now supporting Israel against the Palestinian people," he added.
Malaysia questions double standards of global community on Palestine
Deputy Premier Hamidi says Western nations extended swift support to Ukraine, but ignored Palestinians
Malaysia on Monday questioned the double standards of the international community over Palestine, saying the Western nations extended "swift" support to Ukraine, but ignored Palestinians.
“Why are there two different approaches? For instance, in the Ukraine crisis, the Western powers swiftly provided support to Kyiv. Unfortunately, when it comes to Palestine, it is entirely disregarded,” said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, addressing lawmakers in the parliament.
Hamidi highlighted the “contrast in how the international community responded to calamities in Palestine and Ukraine,” the daily Malay Mail reported.
“Moreover, any community that has long lived under oppression, suffering, and injustice without defense will certainly have a breaking point. This is what has happened in Palestine all along. The provocations and oppressions have escalated since the Israeli regime, backed by radical factions, took control of Tel Aviv,” he told the parliament, locally known as Dewan Rakyat.
The Gaza-based resistance group Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel early Saturday, firing a barrage of rockets.
It said the surprise attack was in response to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and increased settler violence.
TRT World / Anadou Agency – October 8, 2023
Pro-Palestine protests held in countries as Israel bombs Gaza
Tens of thousands march across many Muslim-majority countries in support of Palestinian resistance groups following Hamas' unprecedented raid on illegal Israeli settlements and towns.
Tens of thousands of people have marched in solidarity with Palestinian resistance groups following unprecedented attacks on illegal Israeli settlements and towns that have left hundreds dead and wounded.
Hamas, which governs besieged Gaza, said the attack was driven by what it said were Israel's escalated attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, occupied Jerusalem and against Palestinians in Israeli prisons.
Israel has launched air strikes that have resulted in the killings of over 230 Palestinians and asked Gaza residents to evacuate immediately.
Among other Muslim countries pro-Palestinian protests were also held in:
Yemen: Thousands of Yemenis march in capital Sana in support of the Palestinian resistance groups during fighting with Israel.
Türkiye: In Istanbul, Ankara and other cities in Türkiye, people demonstrated in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere amid fighting between Palestinian resistance groups and Israeli forces. In Diyarbakir, Turkish people express solidarity with Palestinians.
Iraq: Iraqis marched in capital Baghdad in support of Palestinians. They also burned Israeli flags and posters of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
Iran: Iranians gathered in Tehran, carrying the Palestinian flag and pictures of slain Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani — who was allegedly assassinated by Israel, to show support for Palestinians.
Morocco: In Morocco, people raised Palestinian flags and placards that read "no normalisation with Israelis" during a demonstration to show solidarity with Palestine.
Lebanon: In Beirut, Lebanon, people held Palestinian flags and placards that read "resistance is the only way to liberate al Aqsa Mosque" to show solidarity with Palestinians.
Jordan: Jordanians gathered near the embassy of Israel in the capital, Amman, to express solidarity with Palestinians, holding Palestinian flags and placards.
Bangladesh: A rally by Bangladesh’s major religio-political party Jamaat-e-Islami on Monday condemned the Israeli attacks on Gaza and urged the Muslim world to ensure the safety of Palestinians and their rights. The party brought out the procession in the capital Dhaka where the party leaders condemned Israel for suspending power and water supply to Gaza. The rally participants also criticized the UN for its silence on the rights of Palestinians, not taking measures, and not recognizing the 75-year Palestinians' struggle for building a peaceful sovereign state.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement on Sunday, urged both Israelis and Palestinians to exercise maximum restraint and called for an immediate cease-fire to avoid further loss of innocent lives from both sides. “Bangladesh holds that living under the Israeli occupation and forced settlements in Palestinian territory will not bring peace in the region. Therefore, Bangladesh supports a two-state solution, Palestine and Israel, living side by side as independent states free of occupation,” said the statement. [https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/pro-palestine-demonstration-held-in-dhaka-as-bangladesh-calls-for-cease-fire/3012428]
|
Published since July 2008 |
Your donation
is tax deductable.
The Journal of America Team:
Editor in chief:
Abdus Sattar Ghazali
Senior Editor:
Prof. Arthur Scott
Special Correspondent
Maryam Turab
