Iranian president demands mass demonstration for anti-Israel ‘Quds Day’ events

While Tehran implored Iranians to take to the streets for the nation’s annual anti-Israel fest on Friday, the IDF braced for intensified violence on the Gaza border, encouraged by Iran’s proxy Hamas

By: Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

The Islamic Republic’s top leadership appealed to its citizens to honor “Al-Quds Day” on Friday, a date designated for anti-Israel activity, by coming out in their masses to the streets Friday and demonstrating against Israel.

Established by the Ayatollah Khomeini after he came to power in 1979, the annual protests call for supporting the Palestinian “struggle” against “the Zioinists” and the “liberation” of Jerusalem.

On his official website, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said he “expect[s] all people throughout our dear Iran, regardless of their thoughts and beliefs, to attend Quds Day demonstrations, sending the message to the usurper Zionist Regime they have not forgotten the Palestinian land … and the freedom of the Holy Quds is still the holy cause of the Iranian people and all Muslims.”

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reported by the Iranian Students’ News Agency as saying, “Defending the resistance of the oppressed and struggling Palestinian people is truly an important step on the path towards building a better future.”

This year, the Hamas terrorist group, which controls the Gaza Strip, folded its annual “Naksa Day” protest, which  mourns Israel’s  victory in the Six Day War, into Friday’s Al Quds Day. Following weeks of violent, Hamas-fomented riots at the border leading up to Israel’s Independence Day in May, the terror orgnaization once again called for a massive turnout today.

In addition to using leaflets to warn Gazans to stay away from the security barrier , the IDF reinforced the number of troops at the border fence to contain the expected violence. The IDF must also combat the Palestinian’s the newest terror tactic of flying arson kites into Israel and cutting them to burn down agricultural fields and forests. Several hundred kites have already caused some NIS 5 million in damages, and the Palestinians are planning to launch more during today’s protests.

Al Quds rallies are also being planned in other cities worldwide over the weekend, according to organizers, and they are not limited to the Muslim world. London, New York, Toronto and Berlin are also included in the list of protest march venues. While Jewish advocacy groups try to pressure the relevant authorities to stop these rallies, due to the participants’ use of anti-Semitic rhetoric and calls for violence against Jews, demonstrators’ right to freedom of speech and assembly is frequently prioritized over their concerns.