As Israel’s assault on Gaza continues, Pakistan’s largest Islamic movement, Jamaat-e-Islami, has emerged as the most vocal and organized force rallying national and global solidarity with Palestinians.
ISLAMABAD: As Gaza bleeds under relentless Israeli bombardment, Pakistan’s streets have echoed with chants of solidarity, led by the country’s oldest and most organized Islamic political movement — Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan (JIP).
In an extraordinary display of public mobilization, the party concluded its Global Gaza Week (October 1–7, 2025) with massive “Million Marches” across major cities, reaffirming its decades-long commitment to the Palestinian cause.
The week-long campaign with a massive “Gaza March” in Karachi, where tens of thousands thronged Shahrah-e-Faisal, carrying Palestinian flags and placards denouncing Israeli aggression. Led by Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, the JIP chief, the rally drew participants from all walks of life — men, women, students, and even children.
A day earlier, Lahore had witnessed a similarly charged “Million March” that filled the city’s avenues with a sea of red, green, white, and black — the colors of Palestine.
Naeem-ur-Rehman, addressing both marches, called Israel’s continued bombardment of Gaza “a moral stain on the conscience of the world” and urged Muslim nations to “move beyond statements to collective action.”
These events followed earlier demonstrations, including the Islamabad “Million March” in 2024, which targeted the US embassy, and another in December 2024, which drew record crowds. Together, these rallies have cemented Jamaat-e-Islami’s position as Pakistan’s leading voice on Palestine — capable of mobilizing hundreds of thousands within days.
The Spark: Gaza Aid Flotilla Interception
This year’s campaign was triggered by Israel’s interception of a humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza in early October — an act that reignited outrage across Pakistan. Within hours, JIP’s leadership announced “Global Gaza Week”, coordinating rallies, conferences, and media campaigns under the slogan “Stand with Gaza, Stand for Humanity.”
The movement’s nationwide reach was on full display — from Quetta to Peshawar, Karachi to Muzaffarabad — as local JI chapters organized protests, solidarity camps, and social media drives amplifying voices from Gaza.
A Legacy of Activism and Street Power
Founded in 1941 by Islamic scholar Abul Ala Maududi, Jamaat-e-Islami has long viewed Palestine as a central issue of Muslim unity. Over decades, it has sustained a narrative of Islamic solidarity, justice, and resistance to occupation, turning the Palestinian struggle into a moral cornerstone of its policy.
Unlike many parties that confine their activism to parliamentary statements, JIP’s influence lies in street power. Through its extensive grassroots network — including Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (student wing) and Alkhidmat Foundation (charitable arm) — it reaches millions across Pakistan. This infrastructure enables rapid nationwide mobilization — visible each time violence in Gaza escalates.
From its “Dharna” in Islamabad to nationwide boycott campaigns targeting Israeli-linked brands, JIP has transformed Gaza solidarity into a sustained social movement. Its calls for protests are often echoed by civil society, religious scholars, and trade unions.
Beyond Protests: Humanitarian Action
Jamaat-e-Islami’s commitment to Gaza extends beyond slogans. Its humanitarian arm, the Alkhidmat Foundation, has sent multiple consignments of aid — including tents, medical supplies, and food packages — to Gaza through regional relief partners.
Earlier this year, Alkhidmat launched the “Rebuild Gaza” initiative, inviting global donations for post-war rehabilitation. It has also coordinated fundraising drives in Pakistani mosques, schools, and markets, emphasizing that “support for Palestine means saving lives, not just raising flags.”
Political Advocacy and Diplomatic Pressure
JIP leaders, particularly the current Ameer, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, have repeatedly urged Pakistan’s government to adopt a more assertive stance at the UN and OIC. He has called for recognition of a Hamas political office in Pakistan, an economic boycott of Israel and its allies, and expulsion of Israeli-linked companies.
In speeches and media briefings, Naeem has accused Western powers of “moral hypocrisy,” citing the contrast between their silence on Gaza and their vocal defense of Ukraine.
“The blood of Gaza’s children cries out for justice — not statements,” he said during the Karachi march.
Media and Digital Campaigns
Under the hashtag #GlobalGazaWeek, JIP launched an extensive social media campaign that trended nationally throughout early October. The party’s media wing circulated documentaries, eyewitness testimonies, and visuals from Gaza across Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.
Simultaneously, local FM stations affiliated with JI broadcast daily updates and Quranic messages emphasizing solidarity with the oppressed. These digital efforts helped draw younger audiences into the movement, blending faith-based messaging with humanitarian appeals.
A Broader Call to the Muslim World
Jamaat-e-Islami’s leaders have framed the Gaza crisis as not merely a Palestinian issue but a litmus test for the unity of the Muslim Ummah. In his latest statement, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman declared:
“If one Muslim child bleeds in Gaza, it is as if all of humanity is wounded. We must rise as one nation — beyond borders and sects — to end this genocide.”
Faith, Politics, and Persistence
In an era where global attention spans are fleeting, Jamaat-e-Islami has sustained Pakistan’s conscience on Palestine through a combination of faith-driven activism, humanitarian outreach, and disciplined organization.
Its Million Marches — from Islamabad to Karachi — have transformed Pakistan’s public squares into platforms of defiance, reminding the world that Gaza’s agony is neither forgotten nor forgiven.
For many Pakistanis, the sight of Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman addressing tens of thousands under the slogan “Palestine Lives in Our Hearts” is more than a political slogan — it is a reaffirmation of a nation’s solidarity with the oppressed and a challenge to global indifference.
