A massive demonstration took place in Yemen, drawing one million participants, to show solidarity with Gaza and Lebanon
In Yemen, demonstrators have organized rallies to express solidarity with the Gaza Strip and Lebanon amidst ongoing Israeli military actions described as aggressive.
On Friday, the citizens of Yemen organized mass demonstrations in the capital city, Sana’a, as well as in various provinces around the nation, including Sa’ada, Ta’izz, Ibb, al-Bayda, and Hajjah, reflecting widespread public mobilization.
Protesters, brandishing the flags of Yemen, Palestine, and Lebanon, reaffirmed their solidarity with residents in Gaza and those in Lebanon.
Protesters rallied, chanting slogans of solidarity including “Oh Gaza (Oh Lebanon), we stand with you. You are not alone,” and “By the blood of the martyrs, we vow not to be intimidated by the deceit of our adversaries.”
Critics have condemned the United States’ backing of Israel, while expressing approval for Yemen’s countermeasures against both Israel and the United States.
The organizers of the protest have lauded what they describe as a “courageous and historic” decision made by Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, leader of Yemen’s Ansarullah resistance movement. The statement highlights al-Houthi’s directive to launch an offensive against an American aircraft carrier and several US warships stationed in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, successfully averting a purportedly planned US assault on Yemen.
The statement also criticized the Israeli military operations in Gaza, which have Western support, and have now extended their reach into the occupied West Bank and Lebanon.
Yemen has witnessed a surge in mass protests occurring nearly every week, as citizens rally nationwide to denounce Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon. These demonstrations also serve as a platform for Yemenis to express their backing for their nation’s countermeasures.
Since the beginning of hostilities in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, Yemeni forces have launched numerous operations in solidarity with Gazans affected by the conflict. These actions have included strikes on various targets within the Palestinian territories and assaults on Israeli ships or vessels approaching ports in these areas.
On October 7, 2023, Israel initiated military operations in Gaza following a surprise offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm. This escalation comes as a response to what Hamas describes as a prolonged period of violence and destruction perpetrated by Israeli forces against the Palestinian people.
The ongoing military offensive by the ruling authorities in Gaza has resulted in the tragic loss of at least 43,736 Palestinian lives, predominantly impacting women and children. Additionally, thousands remain missing and are feared to be trapped beneath debris.
Since October 2023, Israel has initiated military operations against Lebanon coinciding with its campaign in Gaza. The escalation, which began in late September, has seen intensified strikes in Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of individuals.
