More than 30 Muslims on Monday rallied at the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines to denounce Israeli troops' hostilities in the Palestinian-control Gaza Strip.
Protesters upheld banners and pictures saying "Israel guilty of war crimes", "Israel butcher of children" in front of the embassy compound in Makati city of Metro Manila and called for an immediate cease-fire to the air and ground attacks of the Israeli forces that has killed 514 people since Dec. 27.
"The ongoing occupation of the Palestinian territory by Israel brings about continuous violations of the rights of the Palestinian people," said Kashim Candido, a Muslim youth leader who organized Monday's rally.
Kashim also urged the United States to withdraw its support for Israel which emboldened the country's military to carry out aggressive offensives in the Palestinian territory.
The rally came a day after Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered immediate evacuation of Filipinos who are residing in Gaza.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the evacuation is to ensure that Filipinos in the region are kept out of harm's way, even though there is not yet report of Filipino casualties in the clashes.
The first batch of 13 Filipinos, downscaled from the scheduled 66, are being pulled out from the Gaza Strip on Monday, foreign affairs officials said.
Since Israel unleashed its air and sea campaign, more than 500 Palestinians have been killed, including children, while 2,000 of others were wounded.
The Israeli bombardment has also demolished dozens of houses and heightened concern over the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave where most of the 1.5 million residents depend on foreign aid.
The Israeli army, meanwhile, said Palestinian militants have fired more than 300 rockets and mortars at Israeli targets over the past two weeks.
Source:Xinhua
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