Our hearts are with the people of Gaza, many of whom have lost their children, loved ones, homes, and the dignity and right to live as human beings due to Israel's brutal and relentless massacre. Throughout Friday, March 21, protests against Israel's genocide in Gaza were held in streets across the world, and Dhaka's streets were no different. After the Jumma prayers, the four-coloured Palestinian flag flooded the premises of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. Ordinary people under the banner of "Aam Janata," as well as other groups, brought out processions demanding an end to Israel's onslaught in Gaza. There have been calls for the government to take diplomatic initiatives through the United Nations and others to stop this genocide.

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Enforce ceasefire in Gaza by any means

Since Israel resumed its war against Hamas on March 18, more than 600 Palestinians have been killed, the majority of whom are women and children, according to reports by Al Jazeera. Children were killed across so-called "safe zones." Even hospitals have not been spared. The total death toll since Israel launched its war in October 2023, has risen to more than 61,700, according to Gaza's government media office. Meanwhile, the Israeli defence minister has threatened to annex parts of the Gaza Strip unless Hamas releases all Israeli hostages—whether living or dead. In fact, according to reports by the BBC and CNN, the Israeli minister said they would intensify nonstop strikes from the air, sea, and land and employ civilian and military pressure, including "evacuating the Gaza population to the south and implementing US President Trump's voluntary transfer plan for Gaza residents." Earlier in February, Trump had proposed to build a US-owned "Riviera of the Middle East" in Gaza by expelling 2.1 million Palestinians from the war-ravaged land.

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US must stop supporting Israel’s genocide

There appears to be little hope for Gazans because Israel is carrying out the genocide with the full support of the Trump administration. While many world leaders, including US allies, have condemned Israel's actions, the Trump administration squarely blames Hamas for breaking the ceasefire deal that had brought relative calm to the Gaza Strip between January 19 and March 18. Unless a new ceasefire deal is agreed upon by Israel and Hamas, Gazans may not see an end to the massacre. Thankfully, mediators Egypt and Qatar have reportedly proposed to Hamas the re-establishment of a truce, an exchange of hostages, and the re-entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, which has been blocked by Israel since March 2. It is urgent and crucial that a new ceasefire agreement be reached to stop the relentless killing in Gaza. We urge the international community to take urgent measures to make that happen.