A mass demonstration gathering millions took place in Yemen to express solidarity with Gaza and Lebanon
Yemenis have organized demonstrations to express solidarity with the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, both of which are experiencing aggressive actions by Israeli forces.
On Friday, Yemeni citizens gathered in mass demonstrations throughout the capital, Sana’a, as well as various provinces nationwide, including Sa’ada, Ta’izz, Ibb, al-Bayda, and Hajjah.
Demonstrators, displaying the flags of Yemen, Palestine, and Lebanon, reaffirmed their support for the residents of Gaza and Lebanon.
Protesters rallied with chants in support of Gaza and Lebanon, expressing solidarity with refrains like, “Oh Gaza, Oh Lebanon, we stand with you. You are not alone.” They also vowed resilience against external threats, chanting, “By the blood of the martyrs, we will not fear the deceit of the enemies.”
They criticized the United States’ support for Israel while praising the Yemeni retaliatory actions directed at both Israel and the US.
In a recent statement, protest organizers lauded the “bold and historic” move by Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, leader of Yemen’s Ansarullah resistance movement. The statement highlighted his decision to launch an operation targeting an American aircraft carrier and several US warships in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea. This operation, according to the organizers, successfully averted a planned US assault on Yemen.
The statement further denounced the Israeli military actions in Gaza, supported by Western nations, which have also escalated tensions in the occupied West Bank and Lebanon.
Yemen is witnessing frequent mass protests as citizens take to the streets nearly every week. The demonstrators are voicing their condemnation of Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon, while also reaffirming their support for Yemen’s retaliatory measures.
Since the commencement of hostilities in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, Yemeni forces have conducted numerous operations in solidarity with those affected by the conflict. These operations have included strikes on various targets across the occupied Palestinian territories and attacks on Israeli ships and vessels en route to ports within these regions.
On October 7, 2023, Israel initiated military operations in Gaza following a surprise offensive by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas, named Operation Al-Aqsa Storm. This move by Hamas was described as a reaction to what they termed the Israeli regime’s prolonged history of violence and destruction against the Palestinian people.
The ongoing military operations in Gaza have resulted in the reported deaths of at least 43,736 Palestinians, with the majority being women and children. Additionally, thousands remain unaccounted for and are believed to be trapped under debris.
Since October 2023, Israel has expanded its military operations to include strikes on Lebanon, following the onset of its significant conflict in Gaza. Beginning in late September, the intensity of Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory has increased, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of individuals.
