Hundreds take part in Chicago rally, condemn Israeli raids on al-Aqsa

DISCLOSURE: Sourced from Iranian government funded media

First published 24 April 2022, PressTV

Hundreds of people have demonstrated in the US city of Chicago to denounce recent Israeli raids on the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied Old City of al-Quds.

The protesters gathered at Wells & South Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago on Saturday, as they waved Palestinian flags and carried banners calling for Israeli forces “to take their hands off al-Quds” and to stop their daily assaults on Palestinians, Palestine Official Wafa news agency reported.

The Israeli regime has ramped up its violent attacks on Palestinian worshippers in the mosque since the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Over the recent days, the Israeli forces have laid a siege on the holy occupied city of al-Quds’ Old City, where the compound is located, and have started barring Palestinians between the ages of 40 to 45 from paying visits to the compound. In the meantime, Israeli settlers have been converging freely on the compound under heavy protection provided by the Israeli troops.

“This is the fight of the international proletariat revolutions…we see Zionists attacking our siblings, we cannot be quiet, we must denounce it!” Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez, a long-time supporter of the Palestinian cause said, as he addressed the protesters.

Speaking during the rally, Lesley Williams from the Jewish Voice for Peace, also said, “How long will it be before Palestinian lives matter…we wonder how can that be when the press highlights every single Israeli death but ignores the scores of Palestinians that die every year,” said.

Frank Chapman from the Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression also told the crowd,” We want Palestine to be free! Our solidarity is without conditions, however you fight in your liberation movement, we are with you!”

Emma Lozano from Pueblo Sin Fronteras, also said, “We are both diasporas who know too well the hypocrisy of the former colonizer nations who now turn a deaf ear to our people.”

The latest development comes as thousands of people across the globe have taken to the streets to deplore Israeli violence against Palestinians at the al-Aqsa Mosque and elsewhere in the occupied territories.

The al-Aqsa Mosque compound has been at the center of weeks of heightened Israeli violence against Palestinian worshipers since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.

As a result, at least 19 Palestinians, including three boys and three women, have been killed at the hands of Israeli regime forces and hundreds have been wounded.

The worldwide protests in recent days were followed on Friday and Saturday by a new round of Israeli aggression against Palestinians across the occupied West Bank, including al-Quds, during which a number of Palestinians were arrested and injured.