BASILAN – Approximately 5,000 Basileños, led by Congressman Mujiv Hataman, congregated on Sunday for a solidarity prayer, urging a humanitarian ceasefire in Israel’s intensified conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The call aimed to prevent further casualties among Palestinian civilians caught in the crossfire.
Congressman Hataman, who recently advocated for a Gaza ceasefire in the Philippine Congress, gathered his predominantly Muslim constituents at Plaza Rizal in Isabela City to emphasize the urgency of ending the war in Gaza, where Israeli bombardments have claimed the lives of hundreds of Palestinians.
Police Lt. Col. Parson Asadil estimated the crowd at around 5,000 people, waving Palestinian flags and displaying placards expressing support for Palestine while denouncing Israel’s attacks on Palestinians.
During the peace rally, speakers, including Isabela City Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman, called for humanitarian intervention to save lives and halt the bombing of children in Gaza.
The participants in the rally were mostly volunteers, with some coming from nearby cities such as Lamitan and Zamboanga City.
Representative Hataman stated that their goal was to make their voices heard and contribute to the International Solidarity Movement’s efforts to end the atrocities in Gaza.
