LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Emir Sirajul Haq has raised concerns about the silence of the rulers of the Islamic world regarding the Israeli brutal aggression against the innocent people of Gaza, emphasizing that the time has come for them to demonstrate whether they stand with the aggressoror the oppressed.

Addressing the Palestine Solidarity March on The Mall on Friday, he said, `Israel is an illegal occupant of Palestinian land and has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent individuals. Countless Palestinians have been displaced and are currently residing in refugee camps across various countries, all due to the relentless aggression of the Jewish forces.

`For decades, Palestinians have endured the atrocities inflicted by the occupying forces, and it was only four decades ago that they began their struggle, following the prolonged silence of Muslim leaders on this issue.

He said the caretaker prime minister is notauthorised to make statements contradicting the country`s official policy on the Palestine issue. He demanded that the caretaker prime minister retract his stance on the two-state solution for the Palestine issue. He also questioned the lack of an OIC session convened thus far to address the escalating situation in Gaza, urging the caretaker government to host meetings with all political parties concerning the crisis.

The rallies in Lahore and other cities, organ-ised in response to the appeal of the JI Emir after Friday prayers, saw the participation of women and children.

Mr Haq said the Palestinians had also been unjustly labeled as terrorists when they were facing Israeli tanks armed only with stones.

He noted that Hamas did not violate human rights during their attack in Israel, according to accounts from Jewish women and families who were witnesses to the events.