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The Beirut Southern Suburb, Dahiyeh is once again the platform for events in support of Palestine and its people. Huge rallies were held on Monday in support of al-Aqsa and in rejection to the US decision to declare Jerusalem as capital of the Israeli regime.

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had called for the rallies two days earlier, in a clear declaration to the stance of the Lebanese people in supporting al-Quds and the Palestinian people.

Waving flags and chanting in support of the Palestinians, Lebanese and Palestinian refugee participants took part in the protests on the fifth day of anger across the globe following the Trump decision.

US President Donald Trump had officially declared the city of al-Quds (Jerusalem) as Israel's capital, despite warnings from around the world that the measure risks triggering a fresh wave of violence in the Middle East. In a speech at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said his administration would also begin a process of moving the American embassy in Tel Aviv to the holy city, which is expected to take years.

Rana, who came with some family members to the rallies, said “I participated today in the protests to voice my rejection to what is happening. I support the Palestinian cause and al-Aqsa. I believe that Palestine will be soon liberated from Israeli occupation. Each and every one of us must participate in the protests and should sound his or her opinion on the matter, not only on the ground but also via social media and the web which is a worldwide platform of interaction.”

She added that Palestine is a sacred place for Muslims and Christians, for Arabs in particular and non-Arabs in general. “We have to stand hand in hand to defend the rights of our Palestinian brothers and sisters.”

The Hezbollah Chief delivered a televised speech as people gathered to hear him in one of the main squares, promising that “the day will come when we all pray in al-Aqsa mosque and the Church of the resurrection in al-Quds.”

Describing the protests as of high importance in the context of confronting the Israeli occupation and aggression and the Trump support of Israel, Sayyed Nasrallah echoed that the entire nation must stand in face of the American scheme and assured that “the responsibility does not fall solely on our Palestinian brethren.”

Moreover, noting that Trump seemed to be alone in his decision with no Western consensus on the matter, Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that the US is not a sponsor of peace neither in Palestine nor in the region. He assured that “the US is the sponsor of Israeli terrorism, occupation, displacement, destruction and violence.”

Israa, a Media-major student who came with her friends and cousins said “The Palestinian cause is an Arab cause, and we as Lebanese nationals are more concerned about it since we share borders with our neighboring country, the occupied Palestine.”

Israa, who was carrying the Palestinian flag and chanting along with the crowds, added “The Israeli enemy knows very well, and from previous experience and occasions that the Lebanese people have proved that occupation will come to an end, and that at the end of the day, Sayyed Nasrallah is an honest and trustworthy man who keeps his promises. Sayyed Nasrallah has promised that we will pray in al-Aqsa after the inevitable liberation, and so we will.”

For her part, 24-year-old Zainab highlighted “We all are aware that the Palestinian people are people of a cause that matters to all of us. Palestine, in our eyes, comprises of the people, the land and the sanctities. Our protests today can change the public opinion, this is not a joke.”

Asked about the Trump decision, Zainab said “I personally think that Trump’s decision is nothing but some ink on a paper. Israel has been saying for ages now that al-Quds is its own, but we all know that the Israeli regime is an occupation that must and will come to an end.” She further said “There were many attempts to cause rifts between the Palestinians and the Lebanese, or the Palestinians and the other Arab countries but these efforts went all in vain. We, along with the Palestinians will defend Palestine until our last breath. Also, I believe that our people are aware of what is happening in the region and the world too, and the last thing we should do is make concessions or follow a policy of self-delineation.”

Hashem, a father of three daughters and an engineer walking in the rallies with his daughter sounded his opinion on the matter as well.

“We have tasted the bitterness of Israeli occupation, destruction, violence. For three generations until the Israeli defeat in 2006 in face of Hezbollah and the Lebanese army, we had been subject to all sorts of hardships because of the Israeli apartheid regime. But at the end of the day, a just cause is a just cause and we will not let go.

Ali, an accountant who was living abroad and decided to come settle in Lebanon expressed his view on the matter. “I am here today to answer the call of Sayyed Nasrallah, to say out loud to the world that we support our Palestinian brothers and sisters. We are here to defend al-Aqsa mosque, al-Quds, and the sanctities of Muslims and Christians alike.”

I think that our stand in solidarity with the Palestinians is a loud voice of support, a voice saying that dear brothers and sisters, do not surrender and do not give up, we will back and support you until the end.

He assured that “Any stance, protest or rally whether on the streets or on the internet reiterates that the Palestinian cause is a just cause; it is a matter of defending the right and the land of the free people of Palestine.”

The Lebanese support of the Palestinian cause has been expressed not only on the popular level but also on the official level.

The Lebanese President Michel Aoun expressed his support for the Palestinian cause Friday evening as he lit the festive decorations at Baabda Palace ahead of Christmas.

"Today, as we light the cave and Christmas tree we celebrate every year, our thoughts go to Jerusalem, to the Church of the Nativity and Bethlehem, to the Church of the Resurrection, as well as Al-Aqsa Mosque, Palestine and the Palestinian cities where the wounded and martyrs are falling today.”

Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil during a December 9 emergency meeting in Cairo, Egypt, also sounded Lebanon’s support to Palestine. He stated that Middle Eastern nations must impose economic sanctions against the US so as to prevent Washington from moving its embassy in Israel to the city of al-Quds.