In a shocking turn of events, an explosion at al-Ahli al-Arabi hospital in Gaza, reportedly claiming hundreds of lives, has ignited a wave of outrage across the region, prompting widespread protests.
Hamas has attributed the blast to an Israeli airstrike, while the Israeli military insists that the hospital was struck by a rocket barrage launched by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group, a claim that Islamic Jihad vehemently denies.
Hezbollah Calls for a “Day of Rage
Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah issued a call for a “day of rage” to coincide with the visit of US President Joe Biden to the region. In response, hundreds of demonstrators clashed with Lebanese security forces outside the US embassy in Awkar, Beirut. Protesters threw stones and set a nearby building on fire, leading to police deploying teargas to disperse the crowd. Chants of “death to America” and “death to Israel” echoed through the protests. At the French embassy in Beirut, Hezbollah flags were raised, and stones were hurled at the entrance.
Global Impact of Protests
The impact of these protests has rippled across the region:
– Jordan:In Amman, protesters attempted to storm the Israeli embassy, and police used teargas to disperse the crowd. Demonstrators voiced support for Hamas and called for the closure of the Israeli embassy and the annulment of the peace treaty with Israel.
– Tehran: Protesters gathered outside the British and French embassies, shouting “Death to France and England” and throwing eggs at the French embassy walls. Thousands also gathered in Palestine Square to express their anger.
– Libya:Demonstrators in Tripoli brandished Palestinian flags, expressing solidarity with Gaza’s residents.
– Turkey:President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned the Gaza hospital blast, describing it as an example of Israeli attacks lacking basic human values. Large crowds gathered outside the Israeli embassy in Ankara and the consulate in Istanbul.
Unrest in the West Bank
In the West Bank, controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA), clashes erupted between Palestinian security forces and protesters in several cities. Demonstrators expressed their anger against PA President Mahmoud Abbas, and tensions flared in Ramallah, Nablus, Tubas, and Jenin. These protests shed light on longstanding Palestinian discontent with Abbas’s security coordination with Israel.
The explosion at al-Ahli al-Arabi hospital has not only claimed numerous lives but has also ignited a firestorm of unrest and anger throughout the region. As tensions continue to escalate, diplomatic efforts and international attention are now critical to resolving this crisis.
