Khamenei calls for action against Israeli military in Gaza

On March 21, 2025, across several countries including Pakistan, significant protests took place against the ongoing violence in Gaza. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, urged protesters in the United States and Europe to challenge the renewed Israeli military operations during a Nowruz address. He condemned the severe humanitarian crisis resulting from Israeli actions, highlighting the deaths of children, destruction of homes, and displacement of civilians in Gaza. Khamenei emphasized that these actions must be opposed vehemently, stressing the need for collective international action to stop such 'treacherous' acts. Simultaneously, in Pakistan, the political party Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) organized nationwide protests to coincide with Friday prayers. The party's leaders called out the U.S. government for its support of Israel and urged Muslim leaders globally to take a proactive stance in addressing this humanitarian crisis. JI's Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman condemned the U.S. support and called for peaceful demonstrations outside the U.S. embassy and consulates across the country as a constitutional right of the citizens. He highlighted the alarming situation in Gaza, where alleged acts of genocide continue amid what he described as U.S. complicity. The protests organized by JI were aimed not just at criticizing U.S. involvement but also pressuring the Pakistani government to reassess its relations with Israel. Rehman expressed disappointment with the indifference of Muslim leaders toward the plight of Palestinians while negotiations for other international conflicts received attention. He stated that the Muslim community looks to Pakistan for leadership due to its capabilities as a nuclear power and its professional army, urging the nation to take tangible steps towards advocating for Palestinian rights. With the backdrop of Khamenei's speech and JI's organized protests, there's a growing sentiment among various factions within the Muslim world to address the deteriorating situation in Gaza. The convergence of efforts in Iran and Pakistan highlights how interconnected protests against Israel's military actions are being framed as not only local responses but also part of a broader call for solidarity within the Islamic community. The urgent need for action is not only a matter of politics but is also framed as a moral and humanitarian imperative.