Beirut (AFP) – Thousands of supporters of Lebanon’s Hezbollah demonstrated in Beirut on Monday, chanting “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!” in protest over the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Protesters marched through the Iran-backed Shiite movement’s south Beirut bastion, carrying banners reading “Jerusalem, Eternal Capital of Palestine” and “Jerusalem is Ours”.
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah had called for the demonstration last week after US President Donald Trump decided to upend decades of diplomatic protocol by recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The move has been widely condemned and sparked days of protest across the Middle East.
“Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine and will be until Judgement Day,” said Iman Ghadbun, 28, attending the protest with her seven-year-old daughter.
Israel fought a devastating war against Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006 that killed more than 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and 120 Israelis, most of them soldiers.
Israel withdrew its forces from southern Lebanon in 2000, ending a 22-year occupation, but the two countries remain technically at war and there have been occasional skirmishes on the border.
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