ISLAMABAD: The pre-dawn Israeli attack on a flotilla which left more than 20 civilians dead brought hundreds of demonstrators to the streets in the federal capital on Monday.
Around 1,000 protestors, including journalists, traders, students, parliamentarians and religious leaders, demanded that Israel be
held accountable for its actions.
“What do you expect from a state that even the United States fears and can’t do anything to stop them except use empty diplomatic threats?” Mavi Memon, MNA from PML-Q said.
The protestors demanded the international community to sever diplomatic ties with Israel and termed the raid international terrorism.
“Israel should make no mistake that their inhuman behaviour will be dealt with in the severest manner,” a protestor told The Express Tribune.
The protestors were carrying anti-Israel banners and placards and chanting slogans against the Jewish state. Most of the messages on the banners called upon the international community to take notice of this “atrocity” and take the steps to prevent Israel’s “brutal activities.”
A few banners read: “We are ready to sacrifice our lives for the freedom of Muslims in Palestine.”
The Freedom Flotilla, made up of nine ships, was transporting pro-Palestinian activists and 10, 000 tons of aid for the people of Gaza. The fleet also carried television anchor Talat Hussain and producer Raza Agha.
MNA Farahnaz Ispahani of PPP, Senator Mushahid Hussain and MNA Marvi Memom of PML-Q, Senator Enwar Baig, Akhunzada Chattan, Jamaat-i-Islami Leader Liaquat Baloch, Traders’ leader Ajmal Baloch, President Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists Ashfaq Sajid and Kashif Abbasi were some of the people that led the protests in the capital.
Religious party Jamaat-e-Islami also organised a separate rally against Israel on Monday.
They chanted “down with Israel and America” and called for an end to all diplomatic relations with those countries that were “conspiring against Muslim world.”
“The Muslim Ummah should wage jihad against such prepostrous acts. We counteract such conspiracies”, a protester said while shouting slogans against Israel.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 1st, 2010.
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