A Groundswell of Solidarity Emerges
In the aftermath of the audacious Hamas incursion into Israeli territory, an unmistakable surge of pro-Palestinian sentiment has reverberated through the Arab world. From the streets of Ramallah to the bustling hubs of Beirut, the historic towns of Damascus, the ancient alleys of Baghdad, and the heart of Cairo, a fervent wave of solidarity has enveloped the region. The people have come together, distributing sweets, engaging in jubilant dances, and echoing prayers to bolster the Palestinian resistance against Israel’s persistent occupation.
Farah Al Saadi, a 52-year-old coffee vendor hailing from Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, encapsulated the pervasive sentiment, remarking, “My entire life, I have seen Israel kill us, confiscate our lands and arrest our children. I was pleased by what Hamas did,” he said. He, however, voiced apprehension over the potential scale of “Israeli crimes in Gaza” in response to the raid.
Issam Abu Bakr, a Palestinian official in the occupied West Bank, articulated the resounding support, stating, “I do not think there is a single Palestinian who does not support what happened.” He framed the Hamas attack as a “natural reaction to the crimes committed by Israel” and criticized Israel for turning its back on political negotiation processes.
A Resounding Echo of Support
In the hours following the commencement of the daring raid, Palestinian supporters across South Lebanon and Beirut embarked on a gesture of solidarity, distributing sweets as a symbol of their support. The historical context of Israeli-Lebanese tensions, dating back to the Israeli occupation of the southern region for 22 years, only intensifies the resonance of these actions.
Meanwhile, residents in the southern port city of Sidon set off firecrackers and congregated in public squares, where mosque loudspeakers resounded with chants lauding the “Palestinian resistance fighters who are writing the most wonderful, heroic epic.” These expressions of solidarity were not limited to local communities, as a rally unfolded at the American University of Beirut. An 18-year-old Palestinian student, Reem Sobh, encapsulated the spirit, stating, “We are unable to carry weapons, but at least, we are able to support them.”
A Resolute Right to ResistanceIn an era of global condemnation, Lebanese comedian Shaden Fakih took to Instagram to rationalize the wave of pro-Palestinian support, asserting, “What do you expect from Palestinians? To get killed every day and not do anything about it… to die silently?” She reinforced the notion that Palestinians, despite their diverse opinions on groups like Hamas, have a fundamental right to engage in armed resistance against oppression, particularly in the context of Israeli apartheid.
Widespread Show of Solidarity
In the Tunisian capital, schools took the initiative to raise Palestinian flags, and a coalition of organizations and political parties issued a call for mass solidarity rallies. The Tunisian presidency, echoing the sentiment of the people, declared “full and unconditional support of the Palestinian people” and their unassailable right to resist occupation.
In the heart of Damascus, the Palestinian flag adorned the city’s iconic opera house. Marah Suleiman, a 42-year-old employee at a Syrian university, conveyed the deeply stirring impact of the Hamas attack, remarking that it had rekindled a dormant spirit of resistance within her. Suleiman expressed, “Palestinians have nothing to lose after all the killing, destruction, and displacement they have been subjected to.”
In Egypt, where unauthorized protests are typically prohibited, football fans creatively turned matches into dynamic displays of solidarity, resonating with pro-Palestinian chants. Even in Baghdad, a city that has weathered the scars of war, paramilitary groups symbolically trampled and torched Israeli flags during rallies at Tahrir Square.
A Unified Expression of Support
Even in Gulf states, which had previously normalized relations with Israel through the US-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020, a unifying wave of solidarity has emerged. This underlines the profound resonance of the Palestinian cause across the Arab world, transcending geopolitical considerations.
By AFP
