Iraqi Shiite leader urges “million-strong demonstration” to support Palestine

Muqtada al-Sadr, the leader of the Sadr movement in Iraq, has called for a "million-strong demonstration" in support of Palestine.

Al-Sadr called on Shiites and Sunnis to join together for Friday prayers on 13 October, followed by a demonstration in support of Palestine in Baghdad's central Tahrir Square, Anadolu reports.

The Shiite leader also called on residents of other Iraqi cities to join the demonstration.

On the morning of October 7, the Hamas military wing of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam brigade announced the start of the Al-Aqsa Flood operation against Israel. Thousands of rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, and armed groups entered Israeli settlements.

In turn, the Israeli army announced the start of attacks on the Gaza Strip using dozens of fighter jets.

Before Saturday’s (October 7) operation, the last war between Hamas and Israel was in 2021, which lasted for 11 days and killed at least 250 people in Gaza and 13 in Israel.

Saturday’s assault occurred on the 50th anniversary of the 1973 war, when Israel’s Arab neighbours launched a surprise attack on Israel on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, on October 6, 1973.