Muslims rally on Quds Day as US 'deal of century' looms

AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Millions of people in Iran and elsewhere are marking the International Quds Day to condemn a Middle East plan touted by US President Donald Trump as the "deal of the century".

Iranians took to the streets in massive numbers on Friday after Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei called this year's rallies more important than ever.

People in Tehran and other cities flocked to main streets to support Palestinians who are facing the dangerous prospect of a sellout of their rights through the US plan.

Demonstrators carried banners with slogans such as “Al-Quds is the eternal capital of Palestine” and “Death to America” as well as "No to the deal of the century".

President Hassan Rouhani, who attended the rallies in Tehran, said the "deal of the century" would be the "bankruptcy of the century" for its sponsors and "definitely will not come to a fruition".

He said Quds Day is "the day the confrontation of all Muslims with the world's aggressors and the event's message is that Palestine will be alive forever and al-Quds will remain for Muslims".

"We have no doubt that the ultimate victory will be for the righteous and Palestine and Palestine, and that the land of Palestine will be a safe place for Muslims, Christians and Jews," Rouhani added.

Similar rallies were planned across the world, including in many Muslim countries as well as in Europe and America, to show solidarity with the Palestinians and condemn Israeli atrocities and US policies.

In Iraq, television networks broadcast live footage from tens of thousands of people who were rallying in several cities to condemn "the deal of the century" and support the Palestinian people.

The International Quds Day is a legacy of the late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Khomeini, who designated the day in solidarity with the Palestinians.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, the International Quds Day has been marked worldwide on the last Friday of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar sent a grave warning to Israel ahead of Quds Day and used the opportunity to reject US President Donald Trump’s plan and a summit in Bahrain next month to promote it.

“Trump wants to sell al-Quds to the Zionists without paying a price,” Sinwar said. “I call him from here and say that I and the Palestinian people will be demonstrating along the [Gaza] fence in light of Quds Day in numbers that have not been seen before.”

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