Thousands of Pakistanis gathered near Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi on Sunday to express unwavering support for the Palestinian people as the Israeli military escalates its offensive in Gaza.
The rally, led by Pakistan’s prominent religious party Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), drew large crowds waving Palestinian and party flags and chanting pro-Gaza slogans. Various other religious-political groups also joined the protest.
ASWJ President Mufti Abid Mubarak urged the United Nations to uphold its responsibility to protect the oppressed, rather than facilitating their suffering. He also denounced the roles of the United States and the European Union in the conflict and called on Muslim leaders to demonstrate courage and defend persecuted Muslims worldwide.
The conflict in Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, after a Hamas-led attack reportedly killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken, has since led to devastating consequences. According to Gaza-based health authorities, as of May 3, over 52,495 people have been killed and more than 118,366 injured in the Israeli military campaign.
