Activists light candles and say prayers as they call for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to ensure the safe passage of aid and civilians trapped during the Israel and Palestinian conflict as they gathered on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, in Quezon City, . (Photo by AARON FAVILA / Associated Press)
MANILA, Philippines — Members of Filipino youth organizations on Saturday marched from University Avenue to the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City to denounce Israel’s attacks on Palestine and express their solidarity with the Palestinian people.
During the protest, the activists belonging to the League of Filipino Students (LFS), Anakbayan, College Editors Guild of the Philippines, Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP), Panday Sining and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan lighted candles to pay homage to the thousands of lives lost in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
A potent symbol of their commitment to international solidarity, the LFS took to social media to announce the burning of Israeli and US flags.
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22 journalists dead
The SCMP highlighted Israel’s indiscriminate bombings, targeting even sacred places.
The University of the Philippines Political Society also condemned the Israeli state while also denouncing Hamas in a statement.
“We call on international bodies for immediate humanitarian intervention. We urge the Philippine state to condemn Israel’s further aggression on Palestine,” the statement read.
In a virtual press conference, Palestine Ambassador to the Philippines Saleh Mohammad said the world should concentrate on ways to “end the cycle of violence” in the area.
“This situation is complicated. The whole area in south Lebanon is boiling, the Rafah border [near Egypt] is also boiling, the Jordanian front. Nobody is talking about it, but it’s very tense. The public opinion there is very hot, very angry about the ongoing onslaught of Palestinian civilians,” Mohammed said.
Just last week, 200,000 individuals congregated in Cotabato City to voice their support for Palestine, condemning Israel’s actions.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is actively investigating journalist casualties to provide an unbiased perspective on the situation. As of Oct. 21, at least 22 journalists have tragically lost their lives, with hundreds more dead on both sides since the conflict began on Oct. 7. The toll includes 18 Palestinians, three Israelis and one Lebanese. Additionally, eight journalists have been reported injured, and three are missing or detained.
“CPJ emphasizes that journalists are civilians doing important work during times of crisis and must not be targeted by warring parties,” said Sherif Mansour, program coordinator of CPJ Middle East and North Africa.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera will probably soon become inaccessible within Israel. Reporters Without Borders reported that at least 50 journalists had to evacuate their homes in Gaza due to Israeli evacuation orders.