‘Prelude to strike Israel’: Yemenis commemorate Al-Quds Day in one million man marches

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Hundreds of thousands of Yemeni have rallied on Friday in 57 squares in 12 provinces, including the Yemeni capital of Sanaa.

“We are here for several reasons. First, in response to Allah’s call to be brothers who support one another morally like this rally,” Abdullah Edrees, 33, told Al Mayadeen English.

Edrees is from Al-Baydha province but lives in the capital Sanaa. He has attended the rally along with his son for the seventh year in a row while carrying their machine guns.

“Our enemy, "Israel", reckons for moral support. We can see this on Israeli channels when they reckon with rallies against them,” Edrees added. “Therefore, any works that annoy and terrify the enemy morally are works that satisfy Allah.”

Asked what is his message to Islamic nations that don’t commemorate Al-Quds Day, he said “To Gulf states, I tell them if they don’t support Al-Quds, Allah will replace them with nations and leaders who love Allah and Al-Quds,” Edrees added while carrying his rifle on his shoulder.

In a televised speech on April 28, Ansar Allah leader Sayyed Abdul-Malek Al-Houthi called on Yemenis to take to the streets to commemorate International Al-Quds Day.

“Our people’s attendance in Al-Quds Day rallies will express their faith identity and will extend the position of the supporters of Allah’s Messenger,” Al-Houthi said.

“The revival of the International Al-Quds Day is the voice that truly expresses the right position that Muslims must adopt,” noted Al-Houthi.

He added, “Those who stand on the side of the enemy cannot be in harmony with Islam.”

“Prelude to strike Israel”

Speaking about commemorating International Al-Quds Day, Edrees told Al Mayadeen English that Al-Quds Day is a "prelude to targeting Israel".

“Only those who attend rallies like this are the ones who are ready to fight Israelis,” Edrees added.

Edrees sent a message to Israelis, saying: “you know that your entity’s disappearance is inevitable and will be at the hands of Muslims.”

To the Palestinian nation, Edrees sent a message saying “be sure Allah will support you, and Allah knows we wish we are near you fighting shoulder by shoulder and side by side.

“Our missiles and drones that the Israeli President heard and saw when he visited UAE can reach out Haifa, Eilat and Tel Aviv,” Edrees added.

Ready to fight "Israel"

Naser Hussein, an elder man in his 60s, was one of the thousands who attended the Al-Quds rally on northern 60th Street in the capital Sanaa.

“We are here today to support Islam and Al-Quds and God willing we will defeat the Israeli entity that runs amok on earth”.

Hussein said this is the fourth time for him to commemorate International Al-Quds Day in Sanaa.

"We hope Arabic and Islamic nations unite in commemorating this day for the sake of Al-Quds.

“Israelis should know that we are ready to fight them and our fingers on triggers to liberate Al-Al-Quds,” Hussein told Al Mayadeen English.

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Listen to Ansar Allah leader

Abdul Rahim Ali, 53, said he attended the rally “to support Al-Quds and the Palestinians.”

“We will defeat "Israel". We need to unite at least on this day to support Al-Quds,” Ali told Al Mayadeen English. “This is the 10th year for me to commemorate Al-Quds day,” he added.

Ali sent a message to the Gulf states that normalized relations with "Israel", saying “you should support Al-Quds and have something for Palestinians. You should stop normalization.”

He also sent a message to the people of Palestine: “My message for Palestinians, please listen to Ansar Allah leader. He loves you and your cause is his priority. This means that he won’t rest until he sees Palestine is liberated,” Ali told Al Mayadeen English in a face to face taped interview.

Mufti of Yemen, scholar Shams Al-Din Sharaf Al-Din, said Yemenis took to the streets today to express their position amid many disavowals of the Palestinian cause.

“Watching our brothers in Palestine while they are suffering from siege and killing makes us break our silence,” Mufti of Yemen said in the rally.

“The Zionists are striving to Judaize Al-Al-Quds, but Al-Al-Quds is Islamic and will remain Islamic God willing, and Muslims will be victorious,” he added.