KARACHI, Jan 9: The Citizens Against Zionist Aggression (CAZA) group has strongly condemned the “unabated terror being let loose on Gaza by Israel”, and has called upon all professionals, including lawyers, doctors, teachers, students, political workers and peace-loving citizens to join a peaceful rally on Saturday against Israeli aggression.

The group announced their peace rally at a press conference held on Friday at the Karachi Press Club by representatives from various civil society organisations.

The rally will be taken out today (Saturday) at 3.30pm from the same location.

It was pointed out that at least 700 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by the Israeli military. Almost one third of the Palestinian victims are children. Over 3,100 have been wounded so far.

It was noted that schools have been bombed, hospitals have been destroyed and those health facilities still functioning are now facing an acute shortage of medicine. Participants also condemned the Israeli authorities for stopping medical volunteers from entering Gaza. According to reports, food supplies are drastically low as the blockade on humanitarian aid continues. Israel says that it is providing three-hour windows for aid to be let into Gaza.

The members of the CAZA said they were of the view that Israel was planning to “widen and deepen the operation”, and that this would mean more deaths, more wounded people and more destruction of the buildings and infrastructure of Gaza.

They slammed the US and UK’s consistent support for the “Zionist entity” during the past 60 years.

It was noted that as Israel began pounding Gaza, worldwide protests broke out to condemn the aggression, and to support the Palestinians. The group said thousands protested in Cairo, London, New York, Paris, Istanbul and even in Tel Aviv.

It was also noted that protests in Pakistan were also being registered in many cities by various civil society coalitions. They issued a call to keep protesting and demonstrating till the killings cease in Gaza.

The CAZA also noted that there are demands on the government to actively pursue peace for Palestine, and to demand that the US firmly tell Israel to cease military operations.

The participants also called upon the government to demand that the UN Security Council force Israel to end its operations immediately, and to ensure that sanctions are imposed on Israel.

They also emphasised that Pakistanis must denounce all forms of aggression by Israel on the Palestinians. “Gaza must not be converted into hell by the Zionist entity,” they said.

The platform called for utilising all possible avenues for expressing a firm commitment to peace and the abhorrence of state violence.