Kathmandu, November 23, 2024 — A protest at Maitighar Mandala saw Nepal’s working class and progressive activists stand in solidarity with Palestinians, condemning the Israeli occupation and ongoing atrocities in Gaza. Organized by Joint Campaign Nepal, the demonstration framed the conflict not just as a humanitarian crisis but as part of a broader imperialist agenda targeting oppressed peoples globally.
Participants marched through the capital, carrying banners calling for an end to Israel’s “genocidal policies” and denouncing the silence of global powers complicit in the violence. The protest also drew attention to the systemic exploitation fueling the crisis, as global arms industries profit from the militarization and continued subjugation of Palestinians.
Speakers at the corner meeting argued that the oppression of Palestine is not isolated but interconnected with struggles faced by working people worldwide. “The Israeli apartheid state operates as an extension of global imperialism, with the tacit approval of governments that prioritize corporate profits over human lives,” said one activist. Another noted, “This is a war on the working class—on laborers, farmers, and families who resist displacement and destruction.”
Protesters also criticized Nepal’s silence on the issue, urging solidarity with global movements that demand an end to the siege of Gaza and justice for the tens of thousands of lives lost. Highlighting international parallels, they called for unity among workers, students, and oppressed communities in resisting authoritarianism and capitalist exploitation.
Globally, protests are erupting in dozens of countries, calling out Western powers for their role in arming and enabling Israel. Demonstrators have drawn comparisons between the struggles of Palestine and anti-colonial movements, emphasizing that the root cause lies in capitalism’s drive for domination and resources.
The protest in Kathmandu is part of a growing leftist wave demanding not just a ceasefire but systemic change. “We must end imperialism and apartheid, from Gaza to every corner of the world,” concluded a speaker, encapsulating the movement’s socialistp erspective.