2023-11-04 13:33:05
TEHRAN (AP) — Thousands of Iranians gathered in the streets Saturday to commemorate the anniversary of the takeover of the United States embassy in Tehran in 1979, with chants of “death to the United States” and “death to Israel” and at the same time condemning Washington’s support for Israel in attacking the Gaza Strip in its war against Hamas.
Called by the state, people gathered in front of the former US embassy in Tehran and some burned American and Israeli flags.
Protesters trampled portraits of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden. The banner on the main stage bore the legend “We trample America under our feet.”
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said in a speech that “we consider the criminal United States a main culprit of all these crimes” in Gaza and against the Palestinians.
Qalibaf maintained that Hamas’s attack on Israel has caused “irreparable” damage to the intelligence and security of the Israeli state.
In a statement issued on behalf of the protesters after the commemoration, they called for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza and warned the United States, Britain and France that the crisis could spread in the region. The statement ends with the oath that Iranians will support Palestine “until final victory.”
The demonstration started from Palestine Square in the center of Tehran to the headquarters of the old embassy, a journey of almost two kilometers. State TV showed similar events in several cities and towns.
The event took place as the war between Israel and Hamas enters its fourth week. Some 1,400 people in Israel were killed and 240 kidnapped during Hamas’ surprise attack on October 7. The Israeli retaliation operation has killed more than 9,000 people in the Gaza Strip.
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