On 30th October, a peaceful rally was organised by Photo Circle and Brihat Nagarik Andolan, “In Solidarity with the Palestinian People”, in Patan Durbar Square.
Since the Hamas attacks in Israel on 7th October, where it was reported that an estimated 240 hostages were kidnapped and 1,400 people were killed – Israel has continually bombed the Gaza Strip, killing thousands of civilians in the process. These attacks come after years of unrest between the nations and have resulted in protests, rallies, and demonstrations in support of Palestine around the world.
In a joint statement released by the organisers they said of the rally, “As Nepali people, as members of common humanity, we are clear that silence is complicity in the face of genocide. We refuse to stand by and accept the actions of the Israeli government, or the war-mongering of too many powerful, North American and European states, as normal. We call for an immediate ceasefire to begin with, and a total end to the occupation and apartheid, and for peace”.
The rally included speeches from various Nepali speakers as well as a representative from Palestine who stood beside two men he described as his “brothers from the Jewish and Muslim communities”. Different speakers then read a series of poems and the rally ended with them inciting chants that included “Ceasefire Now”.
Surrounding the rally were crowds of people waving Palestinian flags and holding banners reading slogans such as, “Indigenous People of Nepal are with Palestine” and “South-South Solidarity”. Earlier in the month, on the 10th of October, a candlelight vigil was also held in the same place for the ten Nepali students killed in the Hamas attacks.
