Tens of thousands of supporters from Pakistan's main religious political party have rallied in the eastern city of Lahore against Israel's bombing of Palestinians in Gaza and what it said is the world's failure to protect Gazans. Amid anti-Israeli and anti-American slogans the emotionally charged crowd also called for jihad, or holy war. Earlier this month, Jamaat-e-Islami held massive rallies in the port city of Karachi and the capital, Islamabad. Supporters, including women and children, marched for several kilometres to reach the location of the rally, holding banners and posters with slogans opposing Israel and the United States and in support of the Palestinians. Senator Sirajul Haq, the JI chief, said the ongoing rallies in support of Palestinians around the world awaken world governments and give a voice to the innocent. He said the resolutions and words issued by the Organization for Islamic Cooperation will not work, and that Muslim rulers have to rise and to stop the hand of the aggressor. Meanwhile, a delegation of foreign ministers from the Palestinian Authority and four predominantly Muslim countries will visit China on Monday and Tuesday to discuss the situation in Gaza, Beijing announced on Sunday. The foreign ministers of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and Indonesia — a non-Arab country but with the largest Muslim population in the world — as well as the secretary general of the The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation will be part of the delegation. "During the visit, China will maintain in-depth communication and coordination with the delegation... to promote de-escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, protection of civilians and a fair settlement of the Palestinian issue," a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a statement. The conclusion of an agreement on the release of hostages kidnapped by the Palestinian movement Hamas during its attack on 7 October against Israel now rests on "minor" practical questions, the Qatari prime minister said on Sunday, without providing a timetable. — Euronews
