ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of men, women, and children marched in Pakistan’s capital city on Wednesday to express solidarity with Palestine, as civilian casualties mount in the besieged Gaza following Israel’s ruthless bombing of civilian targets in the area.
A full-scale military operation launched by Hamas on Saturday took Israel by surprise, killing at least 1,200 and injuring over 2,700, according to the Israeli military. Following the attack, which was the deadliest one launched against Israel in 50 years, Israel pounded civilian targets in Gaza, killing at least 1,055 people and wounding 5,184 others, according to Palestinian officials.
A large number of protesters carried Palestinian and Pakistani flags at the rally and held up placards that read “Free Palestine.”
“We have come here to save Gaza, to express our emotions,” Raja Fazil Hussain, a politician, said. “We stand with the Muslims of Gaza and until they are victorious, we will continue to stand with them.”
Ayesha Noor, a student, said participants of the rally knew what Palestinians were going through as they suffered Israeli brutalities.
“And we have the heart to accept that and to support that [the Palestinians’ cause], that is why we all support that. A cause that we stand by.”
Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, has consistently called for an independent homeland for the people of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders with Al Quds Al Sharif/Jerusalem as its capital.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and other Muslim nations have called for an end to hostilities in the region as the Israeli military announced a “full siege” of Gaza, including a ban on incoming food, water and fuel.
Hundreds march in Pakistan’s capital to express solidarity with Palestine
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Hundreds march in Pakistan’s capital to express solidarity with Palestine
- Participants carry Pakistan, Palestine’s flags, demand end to Israeli brutality
- At least 1,055 Palestinians have been killed, over 5,000 injured since Saturday
Pakistan coach says dressing room hurting after India capitulation
- Ishan Kishan’s 77 powered India to 175-7 before bowlers sealed 61-run victory on Sunday
- Pakistan collapsed to 13-3 and were bowled out for 114 in T20 World Cup Group A match
COLOMBO: Head coach Mike Hesson admitted Pakistan's players were hurting in the dressing room after their crushing 61-run defeat to arch-rivals India in Colombo on Sunday.
India dominated the T20 World Cup Group A match which had been in doubt until a few days ago when the Pakistan government cleared the team to play.
India, the defending champions, posted a fighting 175-7 after they were sent in to bat on a tacky R. Premadasa stadium pitch before they routed Pakistan for 114.
"There's a pretty disappointed dressing room in there at the moment, because they know how much it means to Pakistan," said Hesson, who was in charge for his fourth defeat in a row to India following three at last year's Asia Cup.
"We know that it's a huge event, Pakistan against India. We obviously won five games on the bounce before today so we were confident, but today we got outplayed," said Hesson.
Ishan Kishan's brilliant 77 helped India recover from a first-over dismissal of explosive opener Abhishek Sharma before Suryakumar Yadav (32) and Shivam Dube (27) lifted the total.
Pakistan slumped to 13-3 with India's Jasprit Bumrah removing Saim Ayub (six) and skipper Salman Agha (four) in the second over.
Usman Khan top-scored with 44 as Pakistan were bowled out in 18 overs, with 114 their third lowest total against India in all T20s.
Hesson defended the decision to bowl first at a stadium where three previous matches were won by the team batting first.
"I think the ball was spinning quite a lot initially and we started off well but I think the way Kishan played, he took the game away from us."
India's third win in as many games took them to the Super Eights stage while Pakistan now need to win their last game against Namibia on Wednesday.
The defeat further worsened Pakistan's win-loss record in World Cups against India to 1-8. They have lost all eight matches to India at the ODI World Cup.
"We have to pick ourselves up and make sure that we're very good in two or three days," said Hesson.
"We have played some good cricket in the lead-up to this World Cup so we're confident to do well in the tournament."
