15-11-2023 (MANILA) Pro-Palestinian activists in the Philippines engaged in clashes with police officers on Tuesday (November 14) during a march denouncing U.S. support for Israel in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The tense confrontation occurred as over 200 activists sought to express their grievances outside the U.S. embassy in Manila.
Carrying signs adorned with slogans like “Stand up for Gaza,” the activists eventually gained permission to hold their protest outside the embassy. Renato Reyes, the secretary-general of the activist group Bayan, addressed reporters, stressing that the United States bears an “overwhelming responsibility” for the events unfolding in Gaza.
Despite calls from Arab and Palestinian leaders, as well as other voices, urging the United States to pressure Israel to halt its assault on the Hamas-controlled Gaza strip, Washington has refrained from taking such action. However, the U.S. has advocated for temporary humanitarian pauses to facilitate the delivery of aid and the safe evacuation of Americans and foreign nationals.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas escalated when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of over 1,400 individuals. In response, Israel launched air strikes, imposed a siege, and initiated a ground assault on Gaza, leading to global concern over the dire humanitarian conditions prevailing in the enclave.
