Hundreds of Palestinians marched in praise of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein yesterday, the 10th anniversary of the start of the Gulf War. "The Palestinian and the Iraqi peoples are in the first trench against Zionism, imperialism and aggression," read one of the banners waved by the crowd in self-ruled Gaza.
The mother of Palestinian teenager Moussa Al Debbis, who was shot dead in clashes with Israeli troops on November 11, held up posters of her son and the Iraqi leader. "Saddam is the father of all Arabs. He is the bravest example of how an Arab leader should be," she said.
Despite Iraq's impoverishment since the war, Saddam makes generous payments to the families of Palestinians killed and wounded in their 16-week uprising against Israeli occupation. At least 309 Palestinians, 13 Israeli Arabs and 44 Israelis have been killed in the violence. Many Palestinians consider Saddam a hero for resisting the powerful U.S.-led military coalition which ejected Iraqi troops who had invaded neighbouring Kuwait. Palestinian babies are named after him.
Yesterday's demonstrators marched to the main United Nations office in Gaza City, urging the international community to lift sanctions imposed after the invasion of Kuwait in 1990. They called on the Iraqi leader to repeat the Scud missile strikes he launched against Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities during the Gulf War. "Dear Saddam, hit Tel Aviv," they chanted.
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