Muslims Hold Day of Rage to Protest US Al-Quds Move

President Donald Trump on Wednesday defied global warnings to formally recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as the “capital” of Israel and begin a process to move the US embassy to the occupied city.

The announcement has triggered a chorus of condemnations from around the world.

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across the Arab and Muslim worlds and expressed solidarity with the Palestinians and outrage at US president’s provocative move.

As Friday prayers ended at the Al-Aqsa mosque in al-Quds, worshippers made their way toward the walled Old City gates, chanting “al-Quds is ours, al-Quds is our capital,” and “We don’t need empty words, we need stones and Kalashnikovs”.

The protesters have responded to a call by the Hamas resistance movement to hold a mass rally against the US and Israel after prayers.

Skirmishes were reported in the cities of Nablus, Ramallah, al-Quds and al-Khalil (Hebron), according to Palestinian Information Center.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said that more than 40 Palestinians were wounded from tear gas fired by Israeli troops in Qasra village south of Nablus.

Earlier Friday, Israel deployed hundreds of additional troops to occupied Palestinian cities in anticipation of massive protests.

“Several hundred additional police and border police have been deployed inside and in the vicinity of the Old City,” Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

Trump’s announcement on Wednesday has infuriated the Muslim world and upset Western allies.

Large groups of Iranians have taken to the streets across the country. Protesters in the capital city of Tehran and other cities across the country staged anti-Israeli rallies after Friday prayers.

In Tehran, tens of thousands of protesters condemned Trump’s decision, chanting slogans against Israel and the US and expressing support for the Palestinian nation.

The protesters were holding up Palestinian flags and banners saying, “al-Quds belongs to Muslims.” They also burned Israeli and US flags.

In Egyptian capital city, Cairo, Thousands of protesters who had gathered in al-Azhar mosque and outside in its courtyard chanted “al-Quds is Arab! O Trump, you madman, the Arab people are everywhere!”

The imam leading Friday prayer at al-Azhar said the US plot to move its embassy to al-Quds was a “terrorist decision” that would add another settlement to those of Israeli regime.

Thousands of also took to the streets in Muslim-majority Malaysia and Indonesia, and condemned Trump’s step.



The entire al-Quds is currently under Israel’s control, while the regime also claims the city’s eastern part, which hosts the third holiest Muslim site.

The city has been designated as “occupied” under international law since the 1967 Arab War, which Palestinians want as the capital of their future state.

Trump had vowed during his presidential campaign that he would relocate the US embassy in order to court pro-Israel voters.

Palestinians have repeatedly warned Trump against such an action, saying it would deliver a death blow to any prospects of the resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and fuel extremism in the region.

The Trump administration argues that the peace process has become moribund, and outdated policies need to be jettisoned for the sides in the conflict to make progress.