In the heart of Baghdad, a city steeped in a rich tapestry of history and conflict, a new wave of dissent has unfurled outside the US embassy. The bone of contention: Israel’s devastating airstrikes in Palestine, which have culminated in over 500 fatalities. This public outpouring is one manifestation of a broader swell of protests that has surged across the Middle East and North Africa, a poignant echo of solidarity with Palestine that resonates in the face of escalating violence and rising civilian casualties.
These protests, like a wildfire of indignation, have sparked across countries such as Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Iran, and Turkey. They stand as a collective testament to the outrage against Israel’s actions, their voices amplifying the silent cries of Palestine. The catalyst for this uproar was the deadly Israeli air attack on the Al-Ahli al-Arabi Hospital in Gaza – arguably the most catastrophic single attack since the start of the Israeli-Hamas war. And while Israel has denied responsibility, the World Health Organization’s condemnation and call for the protection of Gaza’s civilians and healthcare workers reveal the depth of the crisis.
The protests have spread far and wide. From Iran, where crowds thronged outside the French Embassy in Tehran, to Turkey, where protestors outside the Israeli consulate were scattered by the police. In Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan, protestors attempted to storm the Israeli embassies or consulates, their sentiments a mirror reflecting the region’s long-standing anti-Israel sentiments .
A Global Outcry
Yet, the scope of these protests is not confined to the Middle East and North Africa. In Libya, hundreds marched through the streets of Tripoli, their hands bearing Palestinian flags, their voices chanting slogans of support for Gaza. Reports of protests have also filtered in from Yemen, Morocco, and Tunisia. These global demonstrations underscore the shared anger and disdain for Israel’s actions in Gaza, fueled by decades of oppression and violence against the Palestinian people.
But the international community isn’t merely a silent spectator. US President Joe Biden, who happened to be in Israel during these protests, expressed his grief and outrage over the hospital blast. He even hinted that Israeli forces might not have been responsible. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which established ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords of 2020, have also condemned the attack. The United States has raised its travel alert for Lebanon and greenlit the voluntary departure of US government personnel’s family members, while Israel’s national security council has warned against travel to Turkey.
The protests, then, are more than just an outpouring of anger and frustration over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They represent a broader sentiment of solidarity with Palestine and a condemnation of the violence and civilian casualties caused by the Israeli airstrikes. And as the death toll continues to rise and the violence escalates, it’s clear that the situation remains far from resolved. The protests, a testament to the deep-rooted anti-Israel sentiments in the region and the strong emotions the conflict arouses, are likely to continue, a stark reminder of the human toll of this seemingly endless conflict.
