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Hundreds came together at Qatar University (QU) campus yesterday for the 'Solidarity Stand in support of Gaza'. They held up placards and posters while shouting slogans and singing songs giving vent to their ire against the continuing Israeli occupation.
The event at the QU Library premises was organised by the QU Student Representative Board (QUSRB) in collaboration with the Ealia Club, dedicated to the Palestinian cause. Representatives from Qatar Charity were present to collect donations to support the people of Gaza.
Donning the iconic Palestinian Keffiyeh and waving the Palestinian flag, the demonstrators resonated with the global rage over the continuing Israeli attack on Gaza while urging measures to end the assault. The songs of resistance struck a chord with the crowd with many passionately echoing the singer on the stage.
The gathering also marked mass prayers for Palestinians. The speakers urged everyone to stand with Palestine with prayers, donations and intervention to contain disinformation and smear campaigns against the Palestinians.
“We stand here today at Qatar University to express and declare our strong rejection of the brutal crimes and massacres to which our brothers in Palestine are subjected,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Dr Eiman Mustafawi.
“We also appreciate the efforts of our students in defending the causes of the homeland and the nation, and affirm their right to express their opinions, ideas, rights and positions, through the establishment of such peaceful gatherings in support of important issues, and we commend their humanitarian and charitable role in urging donations to the relief of our people in Gaza in coordination with Qatar Charity,” she said.
President of the Ealia Club Mohamed Alloh said the demonstrators gathered to convey their solidarity and say to the Palestinians that it's a great honour to be granted the blessing of supporting them.
President of QU’s Student Representative Board Fawziya Alhor said the QU community with its students, faculty, and administrative staff believes in the importance of the Palestinian cause. “This cause isn’t reserved for Arabs or Muslims. It’s a humanitarian issue that everyone with humanity must defend, stand up for and show their full support regardless of the differences of nationality or other,” she said.
“Based on these principles that we believe in, QUSRB declares its full solidarity with the people in Gaza and Palestine,” she added.
“All our eyes are turned towards Gaza, which resists the occupying aggressor with determination and fierceness,” member of the Ealia Club Mohamed Sorour said. “Our people in Gaza have demonstrated great patience. They symbolise faith, steadfastness, and resilience in the face of all the oppression and tyranny they endure, but they believe in entrusting their affairs to Allah,” he said.
“Our support for our people and our brothers is a duty incumbent upon us, not a favour from us to them. We are the ones in need of this stance, and we are the ones who need to fulfil this duty towards the path of the Prophet,” head of the Department of Quran and Sunnah at the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies at QU Dr Abduljabbar Saeed noted.
