Islamabad, June 22 (RHC)-- Protesters representing a wide cross-section of Pakistani society gathered to denounce Israel's war crimes and its blatant breach of an International Court of Justice order to cease its military actions against civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Chanting anti-U.S. and anti-Israel slogans, the demonstrators called on the government to cut diplomatic ties with Washington and any other country supporting Israel.
One organizer for the protests -- Bilal Piracha -- told reporters: "We will wind up our second protest if the Government of Pakistan accepts our one demand, to call Ismail Haniyeh, to offer condolences to him, and, to offer more support from the nation of Pakistan. So we want this but our government is afraid of the United States. They are afraid they held the aid package and they want the spare parts from the Jordan. So they're afraid and they do not represent the sentiments of the people of Pakistan."
The protesters condemned Israel's actions and called on international bodies, including the United Nations and the International Court of Justice, to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes in Gaza.
Seven months of war condemned across the world, across the continent, irrespective of their color, irrespective of their race, irrespective of their religion. Who would have imagined before October 7th that there will be sit-ins like this inside the universities of the United States of America? And from Harvard 13 students got expelled because they stood up for Palestine.
Pakistan has long held a firm position of not recognizing Israel. From its government to its people, the country steadfastly calls for the creation of an independent Palestinian state with al-Quds as its capital.
Meanwhile, the boycott of pro-Israeli companies in Pakistan gained momentum as protesters, primarily students from educational institutions and religious seminaries were arrested last week as they attempted to stage a protest in front of an international food chain in Islamabad.
Police arrested protesters advocating for the boycott of pro-Israeli companies in the country.
