Pro-Palestine demonstration held in Dhaka as Bangladesh calls for cease-fire

By SM Najmus Sakib

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – A rally by Bangladesh’s major religio-political party Jamaat-e-Islami on Monday condemned the Israeli attacks on Gaza and urged the Muslim world to ensure the safety of Palestinians and their rights.

The party brought out the procession in the capital Dhaka where the party leaders condemned Israel for suspending power and water supply to Gaza.

The rally participants also criticized the UN for its silence on the rights of Palestinians, not taking measures, and not recognizing the 75-year Palestinians' struggle for building a peaceful sovereign state.

Earlier, Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement on Sunday, urged both Israelis and Palestinians to exercise maximum restraint and called for an immediate cease-fire to avoid further loss of innocent lives from both sides.

“Bangladesh holds that living under the Israeli occupation and forced settlements in Palestinian territory will not bring peace in the region. Therefore, Bangladesh supports a two-state solution, Palestine and Israel, living side by side as independent states free of occupation,” said the statement.

The Gaza-based resistance group Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel early Saturday, firing a barrage of rockets. It said the surprise attack was in response to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and increased settler violence.

In retaliation, the Israeli army launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

About 493 Palestinians have been killed and 2,751 injured by the Israeli forces in Gaza, according to the Gaza-based Health Ministry.

At least 700 Israelis have been killed and over 2,300 others wounded in the fighting, according to the Israeli Health Ministry.