Iranian Lawmaker Expects Massive Rallies on Int'l Quds Day
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An Iranian lawmaker predicted that this year’s International Quds Day rallies would witness a much bigger turnout of demonstrators compared to the previous years in the wake of Israel’s increased atrocities in the Gaza Strip.
Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency on Saturday, member of Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Mohammad Saleh Jokar said the world’s public opinion will make a strong response to the Israeli crimes against people of Gaza by staging mass rallies on the Quds Day, which falls on July 25 this year.
“Today and after the spread of the wave of Islamic Awakening (in region), people of the world, particularly (people of) the Islamic countries, have become aware of this fake regime’s moves and crimes,” Jokar said.
The lawmaker added that Muslim people in certain regional countries have now realized that their rulers not only have remained silent on the Israeli atrocities, but also supported the Tel Aviv regime.
The International Quds Day is an annual event during which demonstrators express their solidarity with the Palestinian people and opposition to Zionism as well as Israel's control of al-Aqsa mosque.
The day was first suggested by the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, in August 1979.
Imam Khomeini declared the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan as the International Quds Day, and called on Muslims and freedom-loving people all over the world to mark the occasion with massive rallies.
The rallies will be held at the time that Israel has launched a ground invasion in the Gaza Strip since Thursday after 10 days of bombardment of the enclave from the air and sea.
Israel struck more than 100 separate sites in Gaza overnight on Thursday, in the first hours of its ground operation.
In all, some 370 Palestinians have been killed since fighting began on July 8, Gaza officials said.
More than 2,900 others have been injured in the 13-day Israeli assault.