TEHRAN: Just days after Israel launched its devastating attacks on the blockaded Gaza Strip, Iranian youth rallied to show unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian cause in a more pronounced way.
A campaign called “You are dealing with me” has drawn in over 10 million participants, pledging direct confrontation with Israeli forces in occupied territories in support of Palestinians. Registration is ongoing, with numbers swelling continuously.
This fervor isn’t confined to Iranians alone in West Asia. Recently, hundreds of Iraqi protestors gathered at Iraq’s main border crossing with Jordan, seeking entry into the occupied territories to stand against Israel.
The toll of Israel’s aggression is staggering: over 13,000 Palestinians were killed, with more than 2.3 million people deprived of basic necessities like water, food, and fuel. Shockingly, over 70% of the victims are women and children. The regime’s attacks spare no place—hospitals, schools, refugee camps—all bear the brunt of this unrelenting assault.
Amidst this unfolding tragedy, millions in the region grapple with a sense of helplessness, disturbed by the ongoing massacres in Gaza. The knowledge that innocent civilians, especially women and children, endure such brutality haunts them, especially when international bodies and regional powers appear indifferent.
The empathy for Palestine transcends West Asia; it’s now a global sentiment. Despite Western leaders siding staunchly with Israel, a divide widens between politicians and their people.
Citizens in the West, compelled to fund Israel’s actions through taxes, recoil in horror at the harrowing plight of Palestinians. Images from Gaza flood social media, stirring a visceral response worldwide. Scenes of a mother cradling her lifeless child or children amidst rubble and bloodshed prompt massive protests from London to New York.
Even with mainstream Western media favoring Israel, support for the regime dwindles globally. Israel’s decades-old narrative crumbles in the face of tragic Gaza images spreading relentlessly on social platforms.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
