KARACHI(National Times)- The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) on Sunday staged a massive rally in support of the people of Gaza to mark the third anniversary of Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023 and to condemn Tel Aviv’s brazen onslaught in Gaza that has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians, including children.
The JI’s ‘Gaza March’ was held on one of Karachi’s key arteries, Shahrah-i-Quaideen, where men and women in large numbers gathered along both tracks of the road, stretching from Allah Wala Chowrangi towards Noorani Kabab.
The highlight of the event was the participation of Dr Muhammad Yousuf Al-Subki, the grand mufti of Gaza.
Speaking at the rally, JI Pakistan chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said Karachi had once again demonstrated solidarity with the people of Gaza despite the city’s own economic and social challenges.
Hafiz Naeem calls for greater unity among Muslim states and continued support for Palestinians
He also linked the Palestine campaign with the party’s domestic agitation against what he called the “petroleum levy / bhatta tax” and rising inflation.
He strongly criticised Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and accused the United States and other Western powwers of backing Israel. He called on Muslim countries to take a more active role in protecting Palestinians and urged greater unity among Muslim states.
Mr Rehman urged the inclusion of more Muslim countries, including Bangladesh and Qatar, in regional defence arrangements, saying such cooperation should also address the protection of Palestinians.
“The issue of Palestine should not be viewed through sectarian or geographical divisions”, he said.
Referring to the Oct 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, he described it as a turning point that, in his view, challenged Israel’s military dominance. He praised the Palestinian resistance and said the people of Gaza had continued to stand by Hamas during the conflict.
The JI leader also rejected the US designation of Hamas as a terrorist organisation, saying his party viewed the group differently. He described Hamas as a political and democratic organisation and credited it with playing a role in ceasefire negotiations.
He accused Israel of violating ceasefire arrangements and said attacks on Palestinians had continued despite the truce. He also criticised Muslim governments for what he described as inaction over the Gaza crisis.
On Pakistan’s foreign policy, he said the federal government should follow the position associated with the country’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, on Palestine. He reiterated his party’s opposition to recognising Israel and called for continued support for the Palestinian cause.
Mr Rehman said the JI would continue its solidarity campaign with Palestinians until Oct 7, after which the party would announce its next course of action on its campaign against the petroleum levy and inflation.
He urged Pakistanis and Muslims across the world to put aside sectarian differences and support the Palestinian and Kashmiri causes.
Addressing the participants of the march, Dr Al-Subki said the JI had exposed Benjamin Netanyahu before the world for what he described as acts of terrorism against the Palestinians.
“Netanyahu is a terrorist who is carrying out terrorism in Gaza and Palestine,” he said.
He added that large-scale rallies expressing solidarity with the people of Gaza and Palestine provided them with moral strength and reassurance that Muslims around the world stood with them.
Dr Al-Subki said Gaza and Palestine were subjected to bombardment on a daily basis, while mothers, sisters and daughters were being killed.
