Alwaght | News & Analysis Website

Alwaght- On August 7, 1979, the late leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (widely known as Imam Khomeini) declared the last Friday of the holy fasting month of Ramadan as International al-Quds day. Since then, millions of people around the world have been commemorating the annual event to express solidarity with the Palestinians and reiterate opposition to the Israeli occupation and expansionist schemes.
From Iran to many Arab and Muslim countries, al-Quds day is marked with rallies condemning the Israeli occupation of Palestine, including the city of al-Quds, which is home to the revered al-Aqsa mosque, one of Islam's holiest sites.
Millions of supporters show up on this day around the world chanting "Death to Israel" and burn the Israeli flag while raising the Palestinian flag high. However, International al-Quds day is more than just a day in which people take to the streets to demonstrate fury over the ongoing Israeli aggression, it is rather a day which epitomizes the world's commitment to the cause and struggle, a day to say out loud that the Palestinian plight has not been buried under the rug, and most importantly to retake the vow to liberate Palestine.
The signification of al-Quds day can be extracted from Imam Khomeini's call for its establishment when he said: "I ask all the Muslims of the world and the Muslim governments to join together to sever the hand of this usurper and its supporters. I call on all the Muslims of the world to select as Al-Quds Day the last Friday in the holy month of Ramadan — which is itself a determining period and can also be the determiner of the Palestinian people’s fate — and through a ceremony demonstrating the solidarity of Muslims world-wide, announce their support for the legitimate rights of the Muslim people."
Many might wonder: what can one day out of 365 do? Well, faith can move mountains. If Muslims can unite for one day, they should be able to unite for much longer and may be even live to see the day the Israeli regime is obliterated.
With al-Quds day marked in the calendars of Muslims, of freedom seekers, and human rights defenders, it is also marked as a day of unity in the face of a common enemy; the Israeli regime. People from all walks of life, in particular Muslims from different sects, ethnicities, and nationalities march side by side to address the issue at the heart of the Islamic nation.
During its tumultuous history, the city of al-Quds has been destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, and attacked 52 times while it has fallen to Israeli regime once, which was enough to trigger a wave of resistance groups and global anti-Zionist movements.

Al-Quds, among other West Bank cities and towns, has witnessed violent clashes between Israeli regime forces and Palestinians, who respond to attacks against peaceful protests or house raids, by throwing stones and this has become the modern-day story of a Goliath and David battle.

At least 58 Palestinians were killed and 6,000 others injured in 2014 at the hands of Isreali regime troops in the occupied West Bank, not to mention the 2,300 people who were massacred and the 17,000 who were wounded during the latest war on Gaza.

In the latest such case, an Israeli regime army jeep struck and killed a Palestinian on June 14 as he was run down and then crushed by the vehicle in the West Bank town of Kafr Malik. This sparked confrontations between stone-throwing Palestinian youths and Israeli troops.

The al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the rock are also constantly raided with Israeli regime troops storming the compound and attacking worshippers with tear gas and rubber pellets. It is also under strict limitations that prevent many Palestinians from performing their prayers.

Imam Khomeini made clear that "the al- Quds Day is a universal day. It is not an exclusive day for al-Quds itself. It is a day for the oppressed to rise and stand up against the arrogant."
On International al-Quds Day, Muslims can raise their voices in unison and unite under one banner; it is after all the Israeli regime's worst fear. It is a day when the oppressed can find solace when calls for justice can be heard echoing around the world.