Protests have erupted across the Arab world in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the looming threat of an Israeli ground operation.
After Islamic Friday prayers, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and the West Bank to express their outrage at Israel's actions in its war against Hamas.
Escalating Gaza Conflict Sparks Arab World Protests
The Gaza conflict, which began following an attack by Gaza's Hamas rulers on Israel in early October, has already resulted in the tragic loss of over 4,000 lives, primarily in Gaza.
Israeli authorities claim that around 1,400 people have been killed, and 200 have been taken hostage. Israel's military strikes and calls for Gazans to evacuate the northern region of the strip have forced over a million people to flee the area.
This has raised concerns about the potential displacement of millions of Palestinians, already registered as refugees due to the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Israeli officials have heightened these fears by suggesting that Gaza will undergo significant changes after Hamas is eliminated.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced that the US is in talks with Egypt and Israel to establish a humanitarian corridor at the Egypt-controlled Rafah border crossing to facilitate the evacuation of Americans and other civilians from Gaza.
The anger over Israel's actions in Gaza has prompted Egypt to authorize its first major nationwide protest in a decade. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered near Cairo's Tahrir Square to support Palestinians. Similar protests also took place in other Egyptian cities.
Hundreds of people in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, took to the streets to denounce the Israeli offensive. Many waved Palestinian and Lebanese flags and flags representing the Iran-backed Hezbollah group and its political ally in Lebanon, Amal.
Some protesters burned the American flag in protest of US support for Israel. In Iraq, hundreds of demonstrators, primarily supporters of Iran-backed militias, held a sit-in at the country's main border crossing with Jordan. Others protested in Baghdad, near the fortified Green Zone that houses the US embassy.
Jordan's capital, Amman, witnessed around 6,000 protesters marching supporting Gazans. Some chanted slogans urging Hamas to intensify its strikes on Israel, as per to CNN News.
Arab World Protests Show Rising Concern Over Gaza War
These widespread protests underscore the growing anger among the Arab population and the frustration among regional leaders over the escalating conflict.
The increasing Palestinian death toll and the perceived reluctance of the US to restrain Israel's actions have further fueled this anger. During his recent visit to Israel, US President Joe Biden pledged continued support for the country but cautioned against any attempts to reoccupy Gaza.
Nevertheless, rhetoric against Israel has been particularly heated from the governments of Jordan and Egypt, two US-allied nations that share borders with Israel and were the first Arab countries to sign peace treaties with Israel. Amman and Cairo have expressed concerns about a potential plan to transfer Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank to Egypt and Jordan.
While Israel has not officially announced such scenarios, these countries have warned that such a move could lead to war.
In a significant move, Egypt's parliament authorized President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to take "necessary measures" to protect national security, secure the country's borders, and support the Palestinians. This authorization includes the possibility of waging war if needed.
Sisi has voiced concerns that Israel's evacuation calls for over a million people from northern Gaza may be part of a larger plan to remove Palestinians from the entire region. He emphasized that this could result in the expulsion of Palestinians from the West Bank to Jordan, undermining the prospects of a Palestinian state.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi warned that any attempts to displace Palestinians from the West Bank to Jordan would be considered a declaration of war. The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is complex rooted in historical disputes, territorial claims, and competing interests.
As protests continue across the Arab world, there is a pressing need for diplomatic efforts to address the underlying issues and seek a sustainable solution that brings peace and stability to the region, Twin Cities reported.
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