Tag: Gaza Strip

  • ‘Your country was forced on the world,’ Asim Azhar calls out Israel’s claims

    ‘Your country was forced on the world,’ Asim Azhar calls out Israel’s claims

    Ever since Israel launched fresh airstrikes in Gaza and Palestine, the official Twitter account of the country has been actively propagating and justifying its acts. Asim Azhar recently responded to one of their tweets and told them to “stop the terrorism”.

    Responding to Israel’s claims that they were founded 3,000 years ago, Azhar said: “Your ‘country’ was literally founded, sorry I mean forced on the world in 1948. Humse bhi aik saal chotay ho, aide tussi 3,000 years kay (You are one year younger than Pakistan and yet you claim you’re 3000 years old).”

    “Stop the terrorism,” he added.

    Asim’s tweet comes as tensions escalate in Palestine, where the Jewish state has dropped bombs on Palestinians killing hundreds. According to reports, Israeli fighter jets continued to pummel the Gaza Strip in the early hours of Wednesday, flattening residential buildings and killing at least four Palestinians, including a journalist.

    Read more – Sheheryar Munawar urges people to speak against injustice in Palestine

    Furthermore, reports have stated that Israel has dropped close to 122 bombs on Gaza in 25 minutes on Wednesday.

    Earlier, Israeli forces shot dead four other Palestinians and wounded scores more during protests and a historic general strike in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

    At least 220 Palestinians, including 63 children, have been killed in Gaza since the latest violence flared on May 10. About 1,500 Palestinians have been wounded.

  • Usman Mukhtar delays release of ‘Bench’ in solidarity with Palestine

    Usman Mukhtar delays release of ‘Bench’ in solidarity with Palestine

    In wake of the unfolding events in Palestine, Usman Mukhtar has delayed the release of his directorial project Bench, which was scheduled to release on May 20.

    Read more – Sheheryar Munawar urges people to speak against ‘injustice’ in Palestine

    In a social media post, Mukhtar wrote: “Hello everyone, as you might have heard, our film Bench was set to release on YouTube on the 20th of May.”

    “However, as excited as we are to show you our work, we are beyond devastated seeing all the atrocities being carried out in Palestine,” continued the actor, adding: “In the wake of the unfolding events and out of respect for the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Palestine, we have decided to delay the release.”

    Mukhtar promised that he would release it in “happier times”.

    Mukhtar also encouraged people with social media following and platform to raise their voice against the dilemma currently unfolding within the middle-east. While censorship and suppression of the ongoing events is widespread, it is important to continue to raise your voice on the matter.

    Read more – ‘Use your influence for the right thing’: Hania Aamir, Zara Noor urge people to call out violence in Palestine

    “I would also like to take this opportunity to request everyone reading this post to please pray for the people suffering and keep sharing anything you can on social media,” said Mukhtar.

    “It helps more than we know. If you have a voice, a platform, a following, you must use it,” he added with a flag of Palestine.

    Besides Mukhtar, several other celebrities including Ayeza Khan, Shehzad Roy and Feroze Khan have raised their voice against the brutality of Israel on Palestinians.

  • Fatima Bhutto expresses anger over Biden administration

    Fatima Bhutto has expressed her anger over Joe Biden’s administration for approving the potential sale of $735 million in precision-guided weapons to Israel.

    Sharing the news report of the approval on Twitter, Fatima Bhutto wrote: “The Biden administration has blood on its hands already and they are intent on getting them dirtier and dirtier.”

    As per congressional sources US lawmakers were not expected to object to the deal despite violence between Israel and Palestinian militants Reuters has reported.

    Other people are also expressing their anger over the deal :

    https://twitter.com/sunshine_leb/status/1394290306086998026

    Israeli bombardment of Gaza, a Palestinian terrority, is the worst the world has seen in years. Israeli fighter jets continue to pound central Gaza with bombs, as the death toll of the Palestinians killed in the fighting has reached to 212, 61 among them are children.

  • Sheheryar Munawar urges people to speak against ‘injustice’ in Palestine

    Sheheryar Munawar urges people to speak against ‘injustice’ in Palestine

    Sheheryar Munawar has urged his fans and followers to speak for the people of Palestine.

    Taking to Instagram stories, Munawar wrote: “I have never asked you anything for myself, but today I ask you not to stay quiet. To open your minds and hearts and speak for the people of Palestine. Speak against the injustice.”

    Read more – ‘Use your influence for the right thing’: Hania Aamir, Zara Noor urge people to call out violence in Palestine

    The actor urged his followers to educate themselves on the current situation in Palestine and further educate others.

    “Take some time to first educate yourselves, not only about what’s happening now in the region but what has been going on for the past 70 odd years,” he added.

    Munawar said: “And then if it feels right to you, educate those around you.”

    In another post, Sheheryar went on to say, “There are 14.7 million Jews in the world – and a total of around two billion Muslims in the world. How many narratives (films) each year do we consume on the holocaust? Now compare that to the number of films, documentaries, shows about the ethnic cleansing, genocide in Palestine? Or for that matter, what’s happening in Syria, Yemen (I could keep going but you get the point), exactly right?”

    “We need more narratives, we need media agencies to start talking, we need people to start talking,” he concluded.

    With the constant airstrikes pounded on Gaza, at least 212 Palestinians, including 61 children, have been killed since the attacks began. About 1,500 Palestinians have been wounded.

  • Pakistani celebrities raise voice against Israeli atrocities in Palestine

    Pakistani celebrities raise voice against Israeli atrocities in Palestine

    With the nonstop bombardment of missiles by Israelis and destruction of Palestinian homes, offices, security buildings and residential property, nearly 200 Palestinians have been killed, including 58 children, in the Gaza Strip as Israeli monstrosities enter the second week.

    People across the world including Bella Hadid, Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik are raising their voices for the Palestinians with Pakistani celebrities too using their social media presence to call out atrocities of Israeli military on innocent people.

    Read more – Mahira Khan, Babar Azam, Maya Ali among others condemn Israeli brutality in Palestine

    “Can you imagine kissing your child to sleep and not knowing if you all will see them again? That’s the reality of life in Palestine right now. That’s the horror those children, those innocent beings live in,” said Ayeza Khan. “My heart aches to even think about this. We can’t do much. But we do have a voice. And together, we can use it to stop the cruelties on our brothers and sisters.”

    Taking to Instagram, Mahira Khan wrote: “If we remain silent, there is blood on our hands too.”

    “Free Palestine,” she added.

    Maya Ali also took to Instagram and wrote: “All of my prayers are with the Palestinians.

    She also prayed for the people of Palestine. “O Allah, please help, protect and support the people in Palestine and ease their pains and sufferings. Ameen!”

    Maya added: “I’ve been absolutely speechless and heart broken of seeing the horrifying attacks on the innocent people of #Palestine. Its high time that we all come together, raise our voices and spread awareness about the current situation in Palestine. When the world unites, miracles happen!”

    Sharing a viral video of a Palestinian girl questioning what her fault is and whether it is fair to attack them like this, Ayesha Omar said: “No it’s not. It’s not fair. It’s not fair. It’s not human.”

    https://twitter.com/ayesha_m_omar/status/1393891986055249921?s=19

    Yasir Hussain also expressed his sadness over the situation, saying: “Khamosh rehny waly tamaam Muslim mumaalik ye bhool rhy hain k aisa unky sath bhi ho sakta hai. Hamen khamoshi ki aadat dali ja rahi hai.“

    Bilal Abbas Khan also shared pictures of protestors demanding to save Palestine from injustice and apartheid of Israel.

    Read more – Asim Azhar, Shahid Afridi, Farhan Saeed call out Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians

    Other celebrities including Feroze Khan, Haroon Shahid, Shehzad Roy, Zara Noor Abbas and Hania Aamir among others also rose their voice and called out Israeli violence on Palestinians.

    Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN) Security Council met on Sunday to discuss the violence but failed to agree on even a joint statement of concern.

  • ‘Use your influence for the right thing’: Hania Aamir, Zara Noor urge people to call out violence in Palestine

    ‘Use your influence for the right thing’: Hania Aamir, Zara Noor urge people to call out violence in Palestine

    Hania Aamir has urged fellow celebrities and others to use their influence to speak up against the violence on Palestinians.

    Read more – Bella Hadid joins ‘Free Palestine March’ in New York

    In a video posted on social media, the actor got emotional and said that she is ashamed of herself for living a comfortable life whereas, people in Palestine are being bombed. She all those watching to talk about the issue openly so that the pleas of the Palestinians could be amplified and heard across the world.

    “Don’t stop talking! Be a better person,” wrote Aamir in the caption.

    Hania also regretted how she was posting Eid photos and videos on social media instead of talking about the ongoing situation of Palestine.

    The Ishqiya actor added that civil pressure is important for social change, saying: “So talk about it, just one hashtag or two hashtags won’t harm or consume your time.”

    Agreeing with Hania, Ayesha Omar commented: “Absolutely. Absolutely. I couldn’t agree more.”

    Meanwhile, Zara Noor Abbas also urged people to raise their voices for Palestinians saying that she is disappointed with those posting Eid pictures on social media.

    “For people talking about Palestine/Gaza now, what happened to this conversation when everyone was posting pictures of Eid outfit [of day] 1,2 and 3,” said the actor.

    She continued: “Let’s not make this topic convenience related. If you feel ashamed or broken for Gaza, then change your perspective on how you celebrate life of social media and put that particular light on the current chaos in Palestine.

    “Don’t showcase happiness if you feel helpless,” she added.

    Early on Monday, the Israeli military launched a fresh series of air raids on the Gaza Strip with explosions rocking the Gaza City from north to south in a bombardment that was heavier, wider and lasted longer than the air raids that killed at least 42 Palestinians and wounded dozens more on Sunday.

    As per reports, at least 192 people, including 58 children and 34 women, have been killed in the Gaza Strip since violence erupted a week ago.

  • Devastating stories from Gaza as Israeli air strikes claim 188 lives

    Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have claimed the lives of 42 more people, taking the death toll to 188. According to Gaza health officials, 16 women and 10 children were killed in the recent air strikes which also targeted the home of a Hamas leader.

    Stories being shared from the region are devastating. A ten-year-old girl, heartbroken and tired from the atrocities she is having to face, questions the world,” I am only ten. How can one expect me to fix the ongoing situation?”

    https://twitter.com/TanveerAbbasATI/status/1394118078477357057

    “When I see all this, I cry everyday. I ask my myself, Why do we deserve this ?” cried the girl.

    Palestinians are scared as Gaza continues to bleed and Israeli barbarism doesn’t seem to end.

    A little girl cries to her mother that she doesn’t want to die. ” I’m scared that my home will be demolished,” cries the girl to her mother.

    https://twitter.com/chul_da_watta/status/1394115292247252992

    A deaf child who survived the air-strike explains what he experienced.

    Israeli warplanes unleashed a new series of heavy airstrikes at several locations in Gaza early on Monday, hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled that the bombings would rage on.

    In a televised address on Sunday, Netanyahu said the Israeli air raids were continuing at “full-force” and would “take time”, adding that his country “wants to levy a heavy price” from Gaza’s Hamas rulers.

    While Palestinians mourn the loss of their loved ones, others called out Israel, standing with Palestine.

    US Representative, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted, “If the Biden admin can’t stand up to an ally, who can it stand up to?”

    She further tweeted,” Apartheid states aren’t democracies.”

    People from across the world marched in solidarity with Palestinians.

    “There is no space in any of the hospital rooms,” Journalist Youmna Al Sayed reported, saying that Gaza’s healthcare system is on the verge of collapsing.

  • Gaza under attack

    Gaza under attack

    Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City demolished three buildings and killed at least 33 people on Sunday, including12 women and eight children. This has been one of the deadliest attacks since the start of the recent attacks against Palestinians by the Israeli forces.

    On May 12, Israeli airstrikes a building in Gaza that housed the offices of 14 media organisations. According to a report in TRT World, on May 7 and May 10, Israeli security forces fired rubber bullets and injured at least eight Palestinian and international journalists covering the protests at the Temple Mount complex and Al Aqsa mosque.

    Yesterday, Israeli forces a building in Gaza that housed several media outlets, including Al Jazeera and the Associated Press (AP). A statement by AP President and CEO Gary Pruitt said: “We are shocked and horrified that the Israeli military would target and destroy the building housing AP’s bureau and other news organisations in Gaza.” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that the US government “communicated directly to the Israelis that ensuring the safety and security of journalists and independent media is a paramount responsibility”.

    These words by the White House Press Secretary sound hollow because ever since the Israelis started attacking hapless Palestinians during the Holy month of Ramzan, the international community, especially the US, has not condemned Israel for its aggression. We did not hear the US or others condemn the attack on journalists when Arab journalists in Palestine were being attacked by the Israeli forces. The way the Al Aqsa mosque was stormed by the Israeli forces during the final Friday prayers in Ramzan, the way the unarmed Palestinians were sprayed with rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas, the world community should have condemned it unequivocally. But what do we hear: US President Joe Biden saying: “Israel has a right to defend itself.” There was no mention of how Israel is an occupying force that will continue to attack and kill unarmed civilians, including children.

    In a report released last month, the Human Rights Watch said Israeli authorities are committing crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution. The 213-page report titled, ‘A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution’, should be read by every world leader in order to understand the gravity of the situation. Today, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has opened an emergency meeting over the situation in Palestine. Several countries that are part of the OIC have recently had recognition deals with Israel. No wonder we have seen a muted response from those countries. Pakistan has been asking the world to come to the aid of Palestine and stop this madness. Unfortunately, the world has become a silent spectator when it comes to Israel’s war crimes. Silence is not an option. We all must speak up for Palestine.