AN umbrella alliance of Muslim Filipino organizations and individuals held a prayer rally at the Bonifacio Shrine in Manila yesterday, Dec. 3, to call for the immediate and permanent cessation of hostilities by Israel in Palestine, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank that resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent Palestinians.
The United Muslim Filipinos for Peace and Justice in Palestine, a coalition of more than a hundred Filipino Muslim organizations, also condemned the recent bombing of a Catholic student mass at the Mindanao State University (MSU) that reportedly killed four people and wounded several others.
“Dalawa ang aming dalangin sa prayer rally na ito: hustisya para sa mga inosenteng Palestino na pinapatay sa Gaza at West Bank ngayon, at hustisya para sa mga biktima ng pambobomba sa MSU kahapon. Andito kami para isigaw ang aming pagkondena sa mga karahasang ito,” said House Deputy Minority Leader Mujiv Hataman, one of the convenors of the alliance.
“We will not stop until our voices are heard and the violence in Palestine comes to a permanent end. Tuloy-tuloy lang namin ang aming pagkilos na aming sinimulan sa prayer rally na ito,” he added.
The United Muslim Filipinos alliance is composed of over a hundred organizations, including 1Bangsa, United Muslim Chairmen of Manila, Manila Mosques and Administrations, UP Muslim Students Association, Anak Mindanao, Amin Youth, United Youth for Peace and Development, Ako Bakwit, Ummahat BASECO and many more.
The coalition also came up with a statement of solidarity calling for the permanent end of hostilities in Palestine.
“We strongly condemn the continuous acts of violence against civilians in Gaza and the total blockade imposed by Israel … The humanitarian crisis demands immediate attention, and we call for an urgent ceasefire to allow essential aid such as food, water, medicine, medical services, fuel and other necessities to reach Palestinian civilians in Gaza,” the statement read.
“Furthermore, we urge Israel, along with its supporter-nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom, to actively pursue a peaceful and enduring resolution to the conflict. A just resolution must ensure the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and secure its right to exist peacefully,” it added.
“We call on the Philippines, through its leaders, to add its voice to the global chorus advocating for peace in Gaza and the West Bank. As a nation that values justice and humanitarian principles, we encourage our leaders to play a role in promoting dialogue and understanding in the international arena.”
The prayer rally started around 3 p.m. on Sunday and was attended by thousands of Muslim Filipinos belonging to different organizations.
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