Iranians mark Jerusalem Day to support Palestinians

Tens of Thousands of Iranians, some chanting “death to America” and “death to Israel,” marched in capital of Tehran on Friday to mark Jerusalem Day, an annual show of support for Palestinians.

Senior Iranian officials attended rally, including President Ebrahim Raisi.

Since Iran's Islamic Revolution in 1979, rallies marking what is also kwn as al-Quds Day have typically been held typically held on last Friday of Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Al-Quds is Arabic name for contested city at heart of Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel captured east Jerusalem in 1967 Mideast war and annexed it to its capital. Palestinians seek eastern part of Jerusalem as a future capital. Jerusalem is home of Al-Aqsa Mosque, third holiest shrine in Islam. compound, revered by Jews as Temple Mount, is also most sacred site in Judaism.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Qalibaf told demonstrators that Israel is “root" of problems in region and that Palestinian militants are hindering Israel's plans.

rally was first al-Quds Day demonstration after country was shaken by months of anti-government protests.

Waves of protests erupted after September death of a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman who was detained by morality police for allegedly violating Iran’s strict Islamic dress code. protests rapidly escalated into calls for overthrow of Iran’s ruling Shiite clerics, marking a major challenge to ir four-decade rule. Iran’ has blamed unrest on foreign powers.

Demonstrators on Friday rallied from 10 different directions to Tehran University's campus, where ceremony ended at Friday’s on prayers.

State TV showed foot of similar rallies in or Iranian cities and towns. Many carried Palestinian flags and banner of Iran-backed Hezbollah in Leban. Demonstrators in some places set fire to American and Israeli flags, as well as effigies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Reza Masoumi, 63, a retired teacher, said he participated rallies to remind Israel that “y cant suppress Palestinians. We Iranians stand by Palestine.”

Fatemeh Yasrebi, 20-year-old student, said she supports Palestinians “until Israel withdraws from () occupied lands of Palestinians. Peace between Muslim nations and Israel is impossible.”

State TV in recent days has shown foot of Israeli police storming Palestinian worshippers inside Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Iran does t recognize Israel and supports anti-Israeli militant groups like Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah. Israel and Iran view each or as archenemies in Middle East.