By Daniel Edu
On Saturday, October 21, 2023, Muslim faithful from across the country gathered in Lagos for a massive rally to demand justice for the people of Gaza in Palestine, who continue to endure ongoing bombardment by the Israeli army.
The demonstrators passionately called for an end to the prolonged occupation of Gaza by Israeli forces. Gaza, a small strip of land with a population of over two million, predominantly comprises Muslims.
This mega rally, organized under the banner of the Conference of Islamic Organizations, united participants from various Muslim associations, civil society groups, students, and Islamic scholars. Notably, Amnesty International (AI) Nigeria, represented by Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, also stood in solidarity with the cause.
Marching through the streets of Lagos, the protesters brandished placards and banners adorned with poignant messages, demanding an immediate halt to the loss of innocent lives in Palestine. Some of the inscriptions on display included “Nigeria Unites for Palestine, Support freedom and justice for the Palestinian nation,” “Stop killing innocent women and children: From the river to the sea, Palestine would be free,” “Gaza: End the Siege,” “Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians,” “A crime against humanity,” and “Our freedom is not complete without the freedom.”
Over the past two weeks, more than 3,000 civilians in the Gaza Strip have tragically lost their lives as Israeli forces persist in bombing structures in response to the loss of Israeli citizens in a coordinated attack by members of the Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7. This incident claimed over 1,300 Israeli lives, including those of infants and the elderly, and resulted in the taking of over 200 hostages.
While the Israeli army has maintained that its military campaign in Gaza will continue until Hamas terrorists are eradicated, the mounting civilian casualties and associated humanitarian challenges have raised concerns worldwide.
