Demonstrations took place in many Arab and Western cities - today, Friday - to denounce the Israeli massacres in the Gaza Strip and demand an end to the war. Activists also warned against the occupation carrying out its threats to invade the city of Rafah, south of the Strip.

A massive demonstration was organized in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, during which banners were raised saying, "The death of Gaza's children from hunger is a disgrace to all of humanity."

This comes with escalating warnings of the threat of famine looming over the Gaza Strip in general and its north in particular in light of the Israeli siege and obstruction of the entry of aid trucks.

In Jordan, crowds of demonstrators gathered to stand in front of the Ebad Al-Rahman Mosque, near the US Embassy in Amman, at the invitation of the “National Forum to Support the Resistance.”

The protest was titled “An American crime with Arab complicity,” as an expression of anger at the attack that Israel threatens to launch on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Demonstrators carried banners saying, “America is the head of terrorism,” “The Rafah aggression is an American-Zionist crime,” and “Stop the genocide.”

Anti-America chants

During the demonstration, chants were chanted in support of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and chants against the United States, including: “America is the head of the snake,” and “America is the devil. It supports Zionism.”

Washington used its veto - Tuesday - to thwart an Algerian draft resolution in the Security Council calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

Jordanian demonstrators called on the country's King Abdullah II to provide them with weapons to fight against Israel.

The protest also carried the slogan “The land bridge is betrayal,” referring to reports of a land bridge extending from the Gulf through Jordan and then to Israel to supply it with goods, which the Jordanian authorities denied earlier.

In Italy, a massive demonstration took place in Florence in solidarity with the Palestinian people, and the demonstrators chanted slogans demanding an end to the genocide in Gaza.

March towards AIPAC

As for the United States, thousands participated in a march in New York City, on Thursday, towards the headquarters of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) to protest its support for the Israeli massacres against the Palestinians.

The demonstrators raised Palestinian flags and chanted slogans against AIPAC. They also criticized US Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand for receiving money from the committee.

The march witnessed occasional altercations with the New York Police, as its members arrested a number of demonstrators.

On Thursday, demonstrators in solidarity with Palestine stormed a hotel where US President Joe Biden was staying in San Francisco, California, demanding a ceasefire.

The demonstrators chanted slogans including, "Biden, you cannot hide. We accuse you of genocide." The US President was visiting the city as part of his campaign for the presidential elections.

The United States provides broad political support to Israel in its war on Gaza, as well as an air bridge to supply it with thousands of tons of weapons and ammunition.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies