Sanaa: The University Student Forum in Yemeni universities organized an international online student and youth symposium entitled "Liberating Quds is the Nation's Responsibility... and Zionism is Doomed," on the occasion of International Quds Day. The symposium was held to highlight the nation's responsibility towards the Palestinian cause, in light of the ongoing attacks and violations against Quds and Al-Aqsa Mosque, and to strengthen the role of youth in keeping the Palestinian cause alive in global consciousness, and to emphasize the unity of the nation in confronting the Zionist enemy.
According to Yemen News Agency, representatives of student and youth movements and groups from 14 countries participated in the symposium: Yemen, Palestine, Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Malaysia, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Texas, Canada, and Australia. The symposium focused on issues related to International Quds Day and its significance, the importance of Islamic holy sites in the religious and cultural consciousness of the nation, and the responsibility of youth in the Islamic world towards the cause of liberating Quds. The symposium addressed the responsibilities of the Muslim world and the international community towards the crimes, displacement, and violations perpetrated against the Palestinian people, and explored practical ways to support the Palestinian cause at the popular, political, and media levels.
It highlighted the dangers of international silence regarding Zionist crimes and discussed mechanisms for influencing global public opinion to end the siege imposed on the Palestinian people. The symposium also addressed the role of student and youth movements in universities in keeping the Palestinian cause alive in global consciousness.
It further discussed the hostility of the Zionist entity and the United States towards the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Iran's pivotal role in supporting the Palestinian cause, while emphasizing the inevitable demise of the Zionist entity and the defeat of its supporters.
During the symposium, Muhammad Abu Shaqra, representative of the Youth and Students Office of Hamas in Palestine, explained that this year's International Quds Day comes amidst sensitive circumstances, with the continued closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the prevention of worshippers from praying there, in an attempt to impose control over it. He emphasized that Al-Aqsa Mosque belongs to all Muslims and necessitates serious action to liberate it. He explained that the "Zionist-American" aggression against Iran and Lebanon aims to break the will of the people who call for resistance, but the heroic resistance against the enemy sends a message that the occupation is doomed to end.
Abu Shaqra called for strengthening Islamic and Arab unity, affirming that the promise of liberating Quds and praying in Al-Aqsa is near.
Meanwhile, Abdul-Hafiz Al-Sharbati, representative of the Palestinian People's Party Youth, asserted that Quds is facing a silent war, far from the media spotlight, with the prolonged closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the escalating arrests and persecution of Qudsi youth.
He drew attention to the demolition and restrictions imposed on Al-Aqsa Mosque, aimed at displacing Palestinians from their land, and called for intensifying media and popular efforts to support Quds, boycott the occupation, and pressure for the expulsion of its ambassadors.
For his part, Jaafar Matari, representative of the University Student Forum in Yemen, stated that the Israeli enemy, in partnership with the United States, seeks to liquidate the Palestinian cause and displace the Palestinian people from their land. He addressed the ongoing aggression and crimes against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, noting the Zionist-American aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran and the success of the brothers in the Islamic Republic in deterring the Israeli and American enemy.
Matari urged Arab and Islamic countries to take serious action, reject normalization, and prevent the displacement of the Palestinian people. He emphasized that the battle for Quds is not only a battle of weapons but also a battle of awareness, will, and stance, and that liberating Quds is the responsibility of the entire nation, and that the Zionist project is doomed to failure.
For his part, Dr. Ali al-Hajj, the official in charge of youth affairs in Hezbollah's educational mobilization in Lebanon, affirmed the support of Hezbollah's youth and the mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance for the Palestinian cause until its complete liberation and the cleansing of Quds from the defilement of the Zionists.
He reflected on the great sacrifice represented by the martyrdom of Grand Ayatollah Imam Ali Khamenei, affirming the pledge to continue the path under the banner of the Supreme Leader, Sayyid Mojtaba Khamenei.
He called on the youth and freedom fighters of the world to abandon their passive stance and take to the streets and universities, besieging American embassies to pressure governments that supply the killers with weapons and political cover. He emphasized standing on the side of truth to usher in a new dawn for humanity, one in which the sun of freedom shines upon all.
Dr. Ali Taha, the head of the Education Committee of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Lebanon, considered International Quds Day an occasion to remind the nation of its responsibility towards Quds and Palestine.
He explained that Quds holds immense religious significance, and its cause is not only the responsibility of the Palestinians but of the entire Islamic nation, affirming that Lebanon has always been at the heart of the confrontation with the occupation.
Dr. Taha stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran affirms that the Palestinian cause is the central issue for the nation, stressing that it must remain so despite regional conflicts.
He called for raising generations to love Quds and support Palestine, considering Quds Day a day of hope for the people. For his part, Abu al-Hassan al-Amiri, representative of the Popular Mobilization Forces students in Iraq, affirmed that commemorating International Quds Day is a revival of awareness of the nation's responsibility towards its holy sites and a strengthening of the spirit of solidarity and unity in defending the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
He pointed to the role of youth in raising awareness of the issue and disseminating it through media and cultural activities to enhance the nation's ability to defend its just cause, emphasizing that the Palestinian cause is a central issue that necessitates political and media support for the resistance until the Palestinian people attain their rights.
Dr. Muhammad Saad, representative of the youth of the Karama Party in Egypt, stated that liberating Quds is the responsibility of the nation, and that Zionism is destined to perish.
He considered the Zionist project a functional colonial project designed to be a permanent obstacle to the Arab renaissance, explaining that the epic of the Al-Aqsa flood constituted a historical turning point that shattered the illusory Zionist deterrence theories and proved that the will of the people is stronger than the most advanced weapons. Dr. Saad stressed the necessity of rejecting all forms of normalization and subservience, ending the foreign military presence and Western bases, and called for building an Arab and Islamic liberation project that supports resistance forces and consolidates their culture to achieve national independence and independent development.
Meanwhile, Taha K§koygun, Vice President of the Turkish Youth Union in Turkey, affirmed that the axis of resistance is not collapsing, but rather regrouping.
He emphasized that Iran, Gaza, and Hezbollah remain steadfast on the ground, noting that the concept of the "nation" represents a strategic reality, and that Quds is the central front of a global struggle, not merely a local issue.
K§koygun appealed to young people to take action, stating that "silence is not neutrality, but a gift to the oppressor," and stressing that resistance requires not so much weapons as it requires "will" in the fields of media, culture, and politics.
In contrast, Firas Najm, Director of Canadian Human Rights Defenders in Canada, emphasized the need to strengthen mobilization and resistance forces in Palestine, Pakistan, and Iraq to strike at the enemies. He emphasized that the growing awareness of the people has exposed the falsehoods of misleading traditional media, considering Ramadan an opportunity for purifying souls and governing according to Allah's laws as a prelude to liberating Quds, which represents the first Qibla for Muslims and the path of the Prophet Muhammad.
He spoke of being harassed by the police in Canada for wearing the emblem of the Islamic Republic of Iran and pictures of its leaders, affirming his commitment to continuing the path of sacrifice and resistance despite threats of arrest.
Nasser Bin Sharoud, representative of the General Union of Students in Libya, also considered International Quds Day a milestone for renewing awareness of the Palestinian cause.
He explained that holy sites are not merely geographical locations but are part of shared identity and religious responsibility, stressing the role of youth in supporting the cause through education, digital media, and cultural work.
Sharoud called for translating sympathy for Palestine into concrete action, emphasizing that amidst rapid international changes, hope remains pinned on the awareness of the people, especially the youth and student movements. Haddou Dah, representative of the Mauritanian Student Initiative Against Zionist Infiltration and in Defense of Just Causes, emphasized that the Palestinian cause and Al-Aqsa Mosque are the central issues for the Muslim world and the symbol of its pride and dignity.
He warned of the dangerous escalation of Zionist and American crimes against Islamic holy sites, calling on Muslim peoples and youth to rise up in a proactive and impactful manner on all political, popular, media, and diplomatic fronts to force an end to these crimes.
Dah stated that the "Al-Aqsa Flood" battle proved that the resistance defends all Muslims, demanding the launch of a strong popular movement to pressure governments to take concrete and sincere decisions to protect the first Qibla.
He reiterated that defending Quds