By Anwarulhaq Baig
New Delhi— In a powerful demonstration of solidarity with the people of Palestine, the Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO), Delhi, organized a Palestine demonstration and exhibition on Al Quds day, the last Friday of the month of Ramazan. The showcase held at Ishaat Islam Masjid on the campus of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) headquarters, saw an overwhelming turnout, with thousands of people gathering to offer prayers and express their support for the oppressed Palestinians.
The exhibition, organized by the student wing of the JIH, aimed to raise awareness about the ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza, where they have endured decades of oppression and violence at the hands of Israeli forces. Through photographs, paintings, children’s artwork, and plays, the SIO highlighted the plight of Palestinians and the urgent need for international intervention to end their suffering.
Talking to media on this occasion, SIO President Ramees EK, emphasized the significance of Yaumal Quds, the last Friday of Ramadan, as a platform for spreading awareness about the ongoing situation in Palestine. Expressing solidarity with the freedom struggle of Palestinians and praying for them, Ramees highlighted the tradition of observing Yaumal Quds (Quds day) globally for many years and reiterated SIO’s commitment to organizing activities to raise awareness about Palestine, even during times when the issue did not receive widespread attention. Addressing the current situation in Palestine, the student leader underscored the importance of solidarity and action, especially in light of the recent escalation of conflict in the region over the past six months. He stressed the responsibility of Muslims to stand in support of their brethren in Palestine and announced SIO’s decision to mobilize actions across the country on Yaumal Quds. The SIO leader outlined SIO’s strategy to engage communities nationwide through various activities, including exhibitions, aimed at fostering a deeper understanding and passion for the plight of Gazans. He emphasized the need for collective action to generate awareness and information about the ongoing struggles faced by Palestinians.
On this occasion, an SIO state Delhi functionary said, “Palestine belongs to the Arabs and the Palestinians, and it must be returned to them. This is our demand, and we will continue this struggle until the time the Al-Aqsa Mosque is liberated and Palestine is free.”
Strongly condemning the ongoing atrocities at the Aqsa Mosque and Palestinians, the SIO official emphasized the organization’s commitment to raising awareness and mobilizing support for Palestine across India. The official highlighted SIO’s nationwide efforts in observing Quds Day, emphasizing the need to denounce Israel’s actions as severe oppression and injustice. Calling for the establishment of peace, the official asserted that true peace can only be achieved with the end of the Israeli state and the liberation of Palestine.
Emphasizing the importance of global solidarity, the SIO official urged people of conscience to raise their voices and stand in support of Palestine.
The exhibition featured a powerful mix of photographs, paintings, and children’s creative works, all aimed at conveying the immense suffering endured by Palestinians, especially in the besieged Gaza Strip. It also featured several touching demonstrations, including children portraying the atrocities committed by Israeli forces and the complicity of powerful nations in supporting these actions.
One striking demonstration depicted five to six children dressed as the United States, European nations, and Israel, with the Israeli child wielding a gun and standing over a dead body wrapped in a Palestinian flag – a haunting representation of the complicity of global powers in Israel’s oppression of the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza.
Another act featured several children wrapped in plaster casts, simulating the injuries sustained by Gazan children in Israeli airstrikes, with debris and shells strewn around them. The scene showed children portraying the victims of Israeli airstrikes, highlighting the brutal reality faced by Palestinians, particularly innocent civilians, in Gaza.
Handmade placards carried by children conveyed powerful messages of solidarity and resistance, calling for an end to the occupation, the liberation of Palestine, and the boycott of Israeli products. Dozens of placards carried by kids delivered a powerful message, with slogans such as “Stop killing Gaza’s kids and people,” “Zionism is Genocide,” and “Boycott Israeli-made and supported products and brands.” The children’s placards also emphasized themes of resistance and liberation, with slogans such as “Occupation Is a Crime, Not Resisting to It,” and “From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free.” These expressions echo the sentiment of many around the world who stand in solidarity with the Palestinian cause. They paid homage to the martyrs of Gaza, honouring those who have lost their lives in the ongoing violence.
Central to the demonstration was a call to boycott Israeli products, with a demonstration showing how the purchase of these goods directly funds the Israeli military machine responsible for the suffering of Palestinians and killing of kids and women in Gaza. Children draped in Palestinian flags and traditional Arabian attire stood in solidarity with their oppressed brothers and sisters, reaffirming their commitment to the Palestinian cause.
Banners outlining the history of Israel’s occupation of Palestine over the past 75 years underscored the systematic oppression faced by the Palestinian people and the ongoing struggle for justice and freedom. The timeline of Israel’s brutal occupation of Palestine over the past 75 years, divided into six major phases. Detailed banners chronicled the various stages of the conflict, from the 1947-49 period when over 80% of Palestinians were expelled from what became Israel, to the ongoing settlement expansion and military subjugation of the West Bank and Gaza.
The demonstration and exhibition came at a time when the situation in Palestine has reached a critical juncture. In the last six months alone, nearly 35,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed by the Israeli military , according to latest reports.
“On one hand, people here are busy with their own lives and work, while on the other, our Palestinian brothers and sisters are being oppressed and subjected to a relentless genocide,” said one of the attendees. “It is our duty to stand with them and amplify their voice.”
The organizers of the event and visitors at the exhibition emphasized the importance of the global Muslim community and the wider international community in standing up against the injustices faced by the Palestinian people.
“The entire Muslim world and the Arab countries have been largely silent on this issue, and it is clear that not just Israel, but the whole world is complicit in the oppression of the Palestinian people,” another attendee said. “We must all come together and raise our voice to demand an end to this occupation and the restoration of Palestinian rights.”
The exhibition also highlighted the importance of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is currently under the control of the Israeli authorities, where “atrocities are taking place.”
The event has given a powerful message for the global community to take concrete action to support the Palestinian cause, including through boycotts of Israeli-made and supported products and brands. “We must all realize that the Palestinians are our brothers and sisters, and we must stand with them in their hour of need,” said an attendee.
