Various progressive groups on Tuesday, Oct. 31, flocked to the Israel Embassy Manila Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City to condemn Israeli's attack on Gaza and call for Palestians' liberation.
Members of Bayan Muna, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), PAMALAKAYA, International League of People's Struggle (ILPS), and Agham Youth National were among those who participated in the protest. Individuals from various sectors were also present.
In an X (formerly Twitter) post, PAMALAKAYA said it joins the call to denounce "Israel's genocidal war against the Palestinian people."
"We also denounce the Marcos administration for its abstention vote on the humanitarian truce in Gaza,” it added.
LOOK | Fishers’ group PAMALAKAYA joins the multisectoral protest to denounce Israel’s genocidal war against the Palestinian people.
— Pamalakaya Pilipinas (@pama_pil) October 31, 2023
“We also denounce the Marcos administration for its abstention vote on the humanitarian truce in Gaza,”
📍 Israel Embassy, Taguig pic.twitter.com/7o17znCaTz
But amidst the protest, Philippine National Police (PNP) forces and security guards blocked the protesters who were supposed to come forward to the Israel Embassy in Manila's gate, according to Bayan Muna.
"Pinilit mang harangan ng PNP at mga guwardiya ng BGC ang dapat sana ay protesta sa harapan ng embahada ng Israel, hindi naman napigilan ang iba't ibang grupo at sektor, ang pagpapahayag ng suporta sa mamamayan ng Gaza sa Palestine na sentro ng walang-humpay na atake ng mananakop na Israel gayundin ang pagkondena sa hindi pagsuporta ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas sa malakas na panawagang ceasefire," it said in a Facebook post.
"Mula ilog Jordan hanggang dagat Mediterranean, sa mamamayang Palestine ang kalayaan! #FreePalestine," it added.
In a video posted by the University of the Philippines's Philippine Collegian on X, it can be seen that authorities blocked the way of the protesters through shields.
WATCH: Progressive groups staged a protest in front of the Israel Embassy in solidarity with Palestine’s liberation. As Israel’s Zionist aggression escalates, the ongoing genocide continues to claim the lives of Palestinian people including women and children.
— Philippine Collegian (@phkule) October 31, 2023
Protesters were… pic.twitter.com/Y7IsxvIyYM
This was not the first protest staged by progressive groups in the country.
Earlier this month, different organizations rallied in front of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and organized a motorcade in Quezon City to call for Palestine’s freedom.
Online protest
Several X users earlier called for the boycott of several company brands that support and are linked with Israel.
In an X post, Moona⁷ posted a thread containing the list of brand companies that people should stop buying from.
Included in the list were renowned global fast foods McDonald's, KFC, and Burger King, women’s lingerie brand Victoria's Secret, soft drink brands Sprite and Pepsi, and many more.
Companies you need to bycott. A thread
— Moona⁷🌟🪻(inactive) (@moonajoon875) October 27, 2023
McDonald's
Kfc
Victoria secret
Sprite
Motorola
Lifebuoy
Nestle
Lipton
pringles
Pampers
Twix
Nike
Tang
Hardees
Johnson & Johnson
Pepsi
Coke
Sabra
Hp
Kitkat
L'Oreal
Lays
Puma
Burger king
Nokia
Dove
Walmart
Siemens
Axa
Sodastream
Ahava
In an X post, user gbae*lola appealed to the public to "not fall for" McDonald's giveway of fries for "every Friday" until the rest of the year.
DO NOT FALL FOR IT #FREEPALESTINE 🇵🇸 https://t.co/BZA2dnKDD8
— gbae⋆lola (@gbennylola) October 24, 2023
