ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region’s two main Islamic opposition parties said on Thursday that Erbil province authorities rejected their request to hold a mass rally in support of Gaza.
The Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) and the Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal) stated in a joint statement on Wednesday that they had plans to hold a rally on Saturday, in solidarity with Gaza in front of Erbil’s Shanidar Park, near the city’s historic citadel.
“We will hold a mass rally to support the Gaza Strip against the genocide they are facing,” read a joint statement by the two parties.
However, on Thursday, the two parties said that their representatives had approached the Erbil provincial office to request “authorization [to hold the rally] and security coverage for our rally from the relevant authorities,” but their request was denied.
Speaking to Rudaw on condition of anonymity, a senior source from Erbil’s provincial office said on Thursday that other groups had also submitted requests to hold rallies in support of Gaza. However, all such requests have been turned down because “such a rally in Erbil is deemed unnecessary.”
Komal and the KIU had stated on Wednesday, “As always, as a religious and humanitarian duty, we strongly condemn the crimes against humanity committed by the occupier [Israeli] army, in a flagrant violation of all heavenly and humanitarian laws and norms.”
“We urge international organizations to put an end to these [Israeli] crimes,” they added.
In October 2023, the Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale incursion into southern Israel, killing more than 1,170 people, according to Israeli figures. Israel responded with a massive offensive in Gaza that killed 50,000 people, mostly Palestinian civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry.
Following 15 months of war, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire which went into effect in mid-January. However, on March 18, Israel launched new attacks on Gaza, killing more than 1400 Palestinians and injuring more than 2500 others, according to the Gaza health ministry. Israel says the offensive aims to secure the return of 59 hostages still held by Hamas.
In the Kurdistan Region, humanitarian efforts in support of Gaza have continued.
Haji Karwan, a former member of the KIU and head of the Erbil-based Bextewery Organization, told Rudaw’s Nwenar Fatih in early April that his organization has sent $5 million in aid to Gaza since the start of the war. The aid, he said, was raised through public donations across the Kurdistan Region.
For its part, the Erbil-based Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF) announced in November 2023 that it would send humanitarian aid to Gaza in support of the Palestinian people.
The aid package included 14 tons of medicine and medical supplies, 2,500 food parcels, 200 boxes of hygiene products, and 400 large cartons of clothes. BCF President Musa Ahmad said his foundation coordinated with Palestinian officials and partner organizations to deliver the aid.
