Protests in Lebanon, Syria against Gaza offensive

By ZEINA KARAM, Associated Press Writer

BEIRUT, Lebanon – An estimated 2,500 Lebanese and Palestinians protested peacefully in downtown Beirut on Sunday against Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip, as hundreds of demonstrators in neighboring Syria shouted insults at the both the Jewish state and Arab leaders.

Angry protests have swept the Arab world since Israel's bombing campaign in Gaza began on Dec. 27 to stop rocket fire from the militant Palestinian group Hamas. Gaza health officials say more than 820 Palestinians have been killed, roughly half of them civilians. Thirteen Israelis have also died.

Many of the protesters in Lebanon held Palestinian flags and banners calling on the international community to stop the Israeli attack as they marched near a building housing United Nations offices.

One group set fire to a large Israeli flag, while children taking part in the protest held bloody dolls representing Palestinian children killed in Gaza.

A convoy of some 15 ambulances from an Islamic medical society also participated, sounding their sirens for 20 seconds in solidarity with Gaza medics.

Some 50 local medics in orange uniforms held pictures of bloody Palestinian victims of the Israeli offensive and a banner reading "Stop the mass genocide."

In Syria, demonstrators took their anger out on Arab leaders they blame for alleged complicity in Israeli attacks on Gaza, including Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

"Mubarak, you are a coward, you are the agent of colonization," they shouted. "Down, down with the Arab rulers, the collaborators."

Many in the Arab world have criticized Egypt's refusal to open the Rafah border crossing with Gaza, perceiving it as abetting Israel's attacks.

The demonstrators in Damascus waved Syrian and Palestinian flags and carried placards reading "Shame on those who maintain silence on Gaza's blockade."

Revolutionary songs were blared from loudspeakers as some in the crowd called on Syrian President Bashar Assad and the militant group Hezbollah to support Gaza by attacking Israel.