JI holds Karachi rally in solidarity with Gaza

JI holds Karachi rally in solidarity with Gaza

KARACHI: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) on Sunday organised a large rally in Karachi to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and condemn Israel’s military offensive in the territory.

The “Gaza March” took place along Shahrah-i-Quaideen, where a large number of men and women gathered on both sides of the major thoroughfare, stretching from Allah Wala Chowrangi to Noorani Kabab.

Grand Mufti of Gaza Dr Muhammad Yousuf Al-Subki was among the prominent participants at the rally.

Addressing the gathering, JI Pakistan chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said Karachi had once again shown solidarity with the Palestinian people despite facing its own economic and social difficulties.

He criticised Israel’s military operations in Gaza and accused the United States and other Western countries of supporting Israel. He called on Muslim-majority countries to adopt a more active role in supporting Palestinians and stressed the need for greater cooperation among Muslim states.

Rehman also called for the inclusion of countries such as Bangladesh and Qatar in regional defence cooperation, arguing that such arrangements should also contribute to the protection of Palestinians.

“The issue of Palestine should not be viewed through sectarian or geographical divisions,” he said.

The JI leader also connected the Gaza campaign with his party’s domestic political activities, including its opposition to the petroleum levy, which he referred to as a “bhatta tax”, and rising inflation.

Discussing the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Rehman described the event as a significant turning point in the conflict. He praised Palestinian resistance and said Gaza’s population had continued to support Hamas during the war.

Rehman also criticised the US designation of Hamas as a terrorist organisation. He said JI did not share that assessment and described Hamas as a political organisation, while crediting the group with participating in ceasefire negotiations.

The rally was held ahead of October 7, marking three years since the Hamas-led attack that triggered the latest major phase of the Israel-Gaza conflict.