Thousands of supporters of a Pakistani radical political party gathered near Islamabad on Saturday to protest against Israeli strikes in Gaza and call for increased aid to Palestinians. The demonstrators also demanded that Pakistan label Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a terrorist. The government has yet to respond to the rally held in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan does not have diplomatic relations with Israel and has been advocating for a cease-fire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. In recent months, Pakistan has sent relief supplies to Gaza to support the Palestinian population.
The rally was organized by the Islamist Tehreek-e-Labiak Pakistan party, with its leader, Saad Rizvi, stating that the protest would continue until their demands are met by the government. The demonstration took place amidst a backdrop of increased militant attacks in Pakistan, prompting the deployment of hundreds of police officers near the rally site.
