- Title: YEMEN: Yemenis hold Gaza solidarity rally
- Date: 9th August 2014
- Summary: SANAA, YEMEN (AUGUST 9, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE MARCHING AND CHANTING MAN CHANTING PROTESTERS MARCHING AND CHANTING VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING HOLDING MODEL ROCKET LAUNCHERS AND GUNS VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNERS AND CHANTING SLOGANS PROTESTERS HOLDING SIGN READING (English): "FREEDOM FOR GAZA" (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PROTESTER, ABDULRAHMAN AL-SELWI,
- Embargoed: 24th August 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Yemen
- Country: Yemen
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA4YKK0E331XPUB5YAG4GMZ90FR
- Story Text: Demonstrators in Yemen took the streets of the capital Sanaa on Saturday (August 9) in support of Gaza, as the conflict with Israel resumed after a three-day ceasefire.
Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip began again on Friday (August 8) and continued overnight, killing at least five Palestinians on Saturday. Rocket fire from Gaza militants also restarted, with Israel accusing Hamas of firing rockets hours before the ceasefire expired.
The conflict has now entered a second month, defying international efforts to negotiate an agreement for an extended end to hostilities.
On the streets of Sanaa, demonstrators rallied in solidarity with the people of Gaza.
One protester said Arab countries weren't doing enough to help the Palestinians, and called on Egypt to open its Rafah border crossing with Gaza.
"We took to the streets in order to show our solidarity for our brothers in Gaza who are blockaded and abused by the Zionists in collaboration with our Arab brothers. Our message today for Arab regimes, especially our brothers in Egypt, is open the Gaza crossing," said Abuldrahman al-Selwi.
Lifting the blockade, imposed by both Israel and neighbouring Egypt, is central to the demands of Hamas, the Islamist government in control of the Gaza Strip.
Egypt is mediating talks between the sides but is meeting separately with each party.
Israel and Hamas deny each other's legitimacy, with Hamas rejecting Israel's right to exist and Israel rejecting Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
Gaza officials say the war has killed 1,886 Palestinians, most of them civilians, while Israel says 64 of its soldiers and three civilians have died in the fighting that began on July 8. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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