TEHRAN -- In a striking show of solidarity with Palestine, over 4.7 million Iranians have come forward, announcing their readiness to go to the Gaza Strip to fight Israel that has intensified strikes against the Gazans, according to recent statistics.
The campaign, dubbed “I’m your adversary” aimed at countering the Zionist regime’s crimes against Palestinians, has garnered significant attention and widespread support across Iran.
The staggering number, equivalent to roughly one out of every 18 Iranians, comes following the very recent atrocities committed by Israel against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets across Iran and other countries in West Asia and North Africa to show their outrage at the Israeli campaign of death and destruction.
Mass protests supporting Palestine and condemning the occupying regime of Israel spread across many Muslim-majority countries after Friday prayer, from Tunisia to Malaysia.
Rallies were reported in Turkey’s capital Ankara and its most populous city of Istanbul, Egypt, Somalia, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Qatar, Iraq, Yemen and in Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea, in more than one city in some countries.
Thousands of Iraqis gathered at Iraq’s main border crossing with Jordan to express solidarity with Gaza and call for an end to the blockade imposed by Israel.
They departed from Baghdad late on Thursday in buses for the Iraqi-Jordanian border crossing in western Anbar province. It is the closest access point from Iraq to the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Amid heavy security, protesters set up tents and staged a sit-in, demanding that the occupying regime of Israel allow aid into Gaza.
“No to Israel and normalization,” they chanted while waving Palestinian flags.
Thousands of Iraqis also gathered in Baghdad near the bridge that leads to the fortified Green Zone, home to the U.S. embassy and other missions in Baghdad.
Protesters in black outfits carried portraits of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, and Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, while waving the Palestinian and Iraq flags.
“We are going to support our people in Palestine,” said 26-year-old Hussein Samir, as he sat in a bus just before leaving Baghdad late on Thursday.
“We condemn them, and we will give them a period of time; if they don’t lift the blockade, the resistance will begin, God willing, and the war against them (Israel) will begin.”
On Thursday Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called for a peaceful sit-in at the Palestinian borders in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan until Israel lifts the blockade on the enclave and aid is delivered to people in Gaza.
Thousands of Jordanians also took to the streets across the country amid calls to march to the border with the occupied West Bank.
Mass rallies were reported in the capital Amman, as well as Irbid, Aqaba, Kerak and other cities.
The interior ministry on Thursday night said protests marching to the border in the Jordan Valley are banned.
The decision came as many in Jordan continue to call for people to march to the border with the West Bank in solidarity with Palestinians.
A march in solidarity with Palestinians reached Cairo’s Tahrir Square on Friday demanding the opening of the Rafah crossing to allow aid into Gaza.
Thousands of people broke through security barriers to reach the iconic square, the epicenter of Egypt’s 2011 pro-democracy revolution that toppled President Hosni Mubarak.
Some people were heard chanting anti-government slogans and invoking Arab armies to act to stop the Israeli bombing of Gaza.
Lawyers and pro-Palestine activists posted footage on social media showing thousands taking part in the protest, carrying Palestinian flags.
Friday’s protests in Egypt started after noon prayers across the country, including in Cairo, Alexandria and Sinai.
In Cairo, the largest protest began from the courtyards of Al-Azhar Mosque, one of the Sunni Muslim world’s most esteemed religious institutions.
Protesters then marched to Tahrir Square despite a heavy police presence. Dozens of people scuffled with police and broke through the barrier to reach the square.
“God is alive, the voice of the people is still alive, the voice of the resistance is still alive,” they chanted.
Protesters demanded the closure of the Israeli embassy and the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador. They also called for the peace treaties between Egypt and the
occupying regime to be scrapped.
Some denounced “cowardly” Arab leaders and praised Palestinian resistance groups. “Resistance is the solution,” they chanted. “The people want the fall of Israel,” others chanted, invoking the famous chant of the Arab Spring protests: “The people want the fall of the regime.”
Sisi had on Wednesday warned that “millions” of Egyptians will protest against any displacement of Palestinians to Sinai, a proposition suggested by Israeli officials and commentators to clear the densely populated Gaza Strip of civilians while the Israeli army launches its military invasion of the enclave.