Thousands march in Gaza to mark Quds day

[ 26/09/2008 - 05:20 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Thousands of Palestinians participated in a huge demonstration to mark the International Quds Day jointly organised by Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.

The march started from the Omari mosque and ended outside the PLC building in Gaza city. Demonstrators chanted with our blood and souls we protect Al-Aqsa mosque and called on Muslims around the world to save the Aqsa mosque from Zionist schemes.

Dr. Abu Halabiya, speaking on behalf of the Hamas movement called on Arabs, Muslims and all free people around the world support the Palestinians in their efforts to save their holy places and historic buildings.

He called for putting pressure on the occupation government to stop the demolition of the Supreme Islamic Council building in Jerusalem and to stop bulldozing the Magharbeh hill which leads to the Magharbeh gate (one of the gates of the Aqsa Mosque.)

Sheikh Khader Habib, speaking on behalf of Islamic Jihad, said that the demonstration reflects the Palestinian people's insistence on their rights calling for unity of the Palestinian people to be able to face the Zionist project.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad hold Jerusalem Day march in Gaza City

Date: 26 / 09 / 2008  Time:  16:41
Gaza - Ma'an –

Hamas and Islamic Jihad organized a joint march on Friday near the Legislative Council building in Gaza City to commemorate Jerusalem Day.

Marches began after Friday prayers. Crowds chanted slogans about the Al-Aqsa Mosque and denounced attacks against Muslims and their holy places.

Islamic Jihad Khader Habib praised resistance fighters working toward “the liberation of Palestine” and called for “national unity to face Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.”

Dr. Ahmad Abu Halabeyeh of the Jerusalem Committee appealed to Arabs, Muslims and human rights organizations to “act quickly to save the Islamic holy sites in Palestine, and in Jerusalem, to stop “violations committed by Israel against Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

He also called for the Arab League to play a larger role in protecting Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Dr. Shallah: “Liberating Jerusalem comes with Jihad ad not by negotiations”

Saturday September 27, 2008 01:22 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Dr. Ramadan Shallah, secretary-general of the Islamic Jihad Movement, stated on Friday that the road to liberating Jerusalem starts with the Jihad and resistance and not though negotiations with Israel.

Speaking at the annual Jerusalem Day celebration held by the Iranian Embassy in Syria on Thursday evening, Shallah stated that the this day is not only an Iranian occasion but also an international celebration for Jerusalem, the Palestinian People, the Arabs and all Muslims around the world.
He added that “occupied Jerusalem is the issue which surpasses all internal divisions, political, racial, and religious regimes”.
“Jerusalem is the address which unifies whole nations”, he said, “It is not a slogan used in occasions and ceremonies, we must stop all internal divisions and unify our efforts to liberate the holy city”.  

Haniya: Al-Aqsa is facing real danger

[ 27/09/2008 - 02:25 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Head of the PA caretaker government in Gaza Strip Ismael Haniya has warned on Friday that the occupied city of Jerusalem was facing real dangers as a result of the Israeli Judaizing efforts in it.

He also stressed that the occupied city of Jerusalem needs political, moral, and financial support from Arab and Muslim countries in order to liberate it.

In press statements he made after the Friday congregation prayer, Haniya asserted, "The massive participation in the pro-Aqsa rallies and conferences across the Arab and Muslim worlds serve as clear indicator that Arabs and Muslims won't concede it".

As far as the inter-Palestinian national dialogue was concerned, Haniya explained the dialogue still in the "stage of clarifying the stands" of all concerned parties, adding that the Hamas delegation would arrive to Cairo next month to explain the Movement's vision on the dialogue.

But he made it clear that there should be no threats, blackmail, or preconditions imposed on Hamas before starting the dialogue, underlining, "for the dialogue to succeed, it must be conducted with an Arab and Palestinian will and determination otherwise, there will be no dialogue as Arab parties know very well that the American veto was the main reason behind the delay of that dialogue, and that the problems wasn’t in the Palestinians themselves".

"We are going to the national dialogue with open hearts and minds, and we shall listen to what the Egyptians would say [regarding the dialogue], and we shall present our vision in this matter, and we have nothing more than that to offer", underscored the PA prime minister.

For his part, Hamas's lawmaker MP Mushir Al-Masri deprecated the PA leadership for neglecting the issue of the occupied city of Jerusalem in the PA-Israeli negotiations, asserting that the "futile" PA-Israeli meetings enhance the Israeli presence in the city, and form one of the most serious conspiracies against the Muslim holy shrine.

"Such compromising way of the PA leadership during negotiations with the Israeli occupation government is the most serious event in Jerusalem's history as they advance narrow personal and factional interests over the Aqsa and Jerusalem city", asserted Masri.

Palestinian Brigades on Jerusalem day: Palestinians must unite to protect holy sites

Date: 26 / 09 / 2008  Time:  10:38
Gaza - Ma'an -

Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, released a statement on the occasion of Jerusalem Day that the city is an “integral part” of the Islamic faith and should be liberated and protected.

The statement, sent to Ma’an, congratulated all the other brigades on their steadfastness in standing next to the Palestinian people, and thanked all fighters who they called the defenders of the land. In this the ninth year of the second intifadah, they said, we need even more strength and steadfastness from Palestinian fighters in order to continue our struggle.

The group called on all Arab and Islamic peoples to support the Palestinian resistance in their attempts to liberate Jerusalem.

The brigades demanded all Palestinian factions unite, since they are responsible for ending the current state of internal division.

Deputy Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad confirms statements

Also Friday, Ziad An-Nkhaleh, the deputy secretary general of the movement, released a statement saying the Islamic nation must support the resistance factions in Palestine as they work to take back the city.

"International Jerusalem Day should reflect the unity of Muslims and emphasize the importance of Jerusalem [which is now] being Judaized and under Israeli aggression," said the leader’s statement.

"Today and more than ever,” the statement continued “many Islamic states are raising high banners to show solidarity with Jerusalem and calling for its liberation.”

An-Nkhaleh also sent congratulations to the Palestinian people for the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Al-Aqsa Brigades affirm importance of protecting Jerusalem

The Al-Aqsa brigades affiliated to the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat congratulated Palestinians on the international Day for Jerusalem Friday.

The brigades sent a statement issued by their media office, which spoke broadly about the condition of Jerusalem and the Palestinian people who have been entrusted to protect it. It also touched on American policy and Israeli policies regarding the city, condemning the practice of land confiscation, saying it enflames the internal Palestinian struggle.

The statement called on Palestinians to oppose illegal Israeli policies, and also said they appreciate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ efforts to negotiate peace for Palestinians, though they would never accept any deal that included Israeli sovereignty over the Al-Aqsa mosque.

The brigades called on Arab and Islamic states to take action against discriminatory practices around access to the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. They added that the Muslim world should help Palestinians to protect the area, adding that any Israeli attempt to harm the holy place would ignite anger across the Arab and Muslim world.

Quds rally resolution urges int'l organizations to end biased approaches

Tehran, Sept 26, IRNA

Tehrani International Quds Day ralliers on Friday called on international organizations to end their biased policies and approaches which show the occupiers green light to go ahead with their crimes.

In a nine-point resolution issued at the end of the rallies, the people called for putting an end to savage crimes committed by the Zionists in Gaza.

"The Islamic world under no circumstances officially recognizes the forged Zionist regime and believes that a day will come when the cancerous tumor would be wiped off the world map," reads the resolution.

It also voices full support for the Lebanese Hizbollah and its brave leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, as well as the legal and popular government of Palestine and its head, Prime Minister Ismail Hanieh.

The ralliers also highlighted the need for Iran's use of peaceful nuclear technology and science, while condemning the Zionist regime's efforts to expand nuclear weapons and pursue massacre of citizens.

The ralliers stressed they are ready to deal forcefully and strongly in confrontation with any threat and plot against territorial integrity of the sacred Islamic Republic system.

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Muslims in Pakistan mark Al Quds Day with big rallies and protest demonstrations

[ 27/09/2008 - 12:19 PM ]

LAHORE, PAKISTAN, (PIC)-- 

Hundreds of thousands of the faithful rallied in major cities of Pakistan on Friday to join millions of Muslims around the world to mark Al Quds Day.

Different rallies and demonstrations were held in the country in which participants condemned the illegal Jewish state and its patrons in Washington for forcibly occupying Muslim Palestine and massacring and displacing millions of innocent Muslims including women and children. They also set ablaze flags of Israel and America as mark of protest and condemnation towards the enemies of Islam.

In Lahore, a rally was taken out from Islampura which culminated on Lower Mall. A large number of people including children and women participated in the rally. Carrying placards and banners the protestors chanted slogans against Israel. They expressed their solidarity with innocent people of Palestine. They strongly condemned forced Israeli occupation on Bait ul Muqadas and aggression against innocent people of Palestine.

ISO officer bearers also spoke on the occasion while in the end American and Israeli flags were also set on fire. The rally also caused a traffic mess on adjacent roads of the Lower Mall.

Meanwhile, Jafaria Students Organization, JSO Lahore also organized a demonstration outside the Lahore Press Club in which a large number of students participated. The protesting students chanted anti-Israeli slogans and vowed to continue struggle till freedom of the first Qibla (Jerusalem). They vowed not to rest till independence of Bait ul Muqadas (Jerusalem).

Al Quds Day is held on the last Friday of Ramadan and is being observed to show support for Palestinians in Occupied Jerusalem .

A big rally was held in Karachi after Jumma prayers in connection with the Al-Quds Day on Friday by the Shia Ulema Council, Jafferia Students Organization and Imamia Students Organization was a referendum against the Zionist states.   The rally expressed solidarity with their Muslim brethren, particularly the Palestinian people struggling for the liberation of Al-Quds, by observing Al-Quds Day on Jumatul Wida (last Friday of the holy month of Ramazan).

The procession which was taken out from the Regal Chowk and culminated at Empress Market was addressed by President, Shia Council Sindh, Allama Altaf Hussain Al Hussaini, Maulana Jaffer Subhani and Maulana Shahanshah Hussain Naqvi. The participants of the rally raised slogans against the United States and Israel. They also burnt US and Israeli flags

The speakers strongly condemned Israel who had forcibly uprooted Palestinians from their lands and are living a life of refugees in different parts of the world, adding that US invasions of the third world countries has resulted in the killing thousands of innocent people.

They vowed to continue to observe Jummat-ul-Wida as Al-Quds Day until the liberation of the Al-Quds.