In a powerful show of solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, thousands of people in Muslim countries and beyond took to the streets on Friday, staging massive protests and demanding an end to Israel's blockade and airstrikes. NBC News reports that demonstrations were held in several countries, including Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, and even as far as Colombia and Lebanon.

One of the prominent themes during these protests was the Tuesday night explosion at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City. The cause of the blast, which occurred while the hospital was tending to wounded Palestinians and residents seeking shelter, has not yet been determined. Initial reports from the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza suggested it was caused by an Israeli airstrike. However, U.S. assessments have concluded that it was most likely a result of a rocket misfire by Palestinian militants. Israel has presented evidence to support its claim.

These protests come in the wake of a brutal incursion into southern Israel by fighters from Hamas, the militant group that rules Gaza. The Israeli siege of Gaza and the airstrikes on the territory have been met with widespread condemnation. Earlier this week, demonstrations were held at Egyptian universities, outside the Israeli Embassy in Bogota, and near the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.

The ongoing violence has taken a devastating toll on both sides. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 4,000 people have been killed and more than 13,000 injured in the territory since the war began. A significant number of the casualties are women, children, and older adults. Israeli officials, on the other hand, state that more than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians, as a result of the Hamas incursion. Approximately 200 individuals are believed to have been abducted.

The protests in Egypt were particularly notable as the government approved and organized 27 locations for demonstrators to gather, a rare move in a country that has outlawed large public protests since 2013. In cities and towns across Egypt, the overwhelming majority of Egyptians expressed their sympathy towards the Palestinians and their desire for independence.

Turkey, which has declared three days of mourning in solidarity with Gaza, also saw thousands of people taking part in protests. In Istanbul and Ankara, protesters affiliated with Islamic groups waved Turkish and Palestinian flags, held up placards denouncing Israel's actions, and chanted slogans calling for an end to the violence.

Similar demonstrations were seen in Iraq, where the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Iran-backed Shia political groups and militias, organized a protest near the Trebil border crossing with Jordan. Protesters waved Palestinian flags and condemned the U.S. Embassy for its alleged endorsement of Israel in the ongoing conflict.

In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, around 1,000 Muslims marched through the city after Friday prayers, denouncing Israel as a bully and demanding an end to the killing in Gaza. The protesters gathered outside the heavily secured U.S. Embassy to express their disapproval of America's support for Israel.

As the protests continue to escalate, concerns have been raised about the potential for further violence and the risk of a wider regional conflict. Iran has warned that an Israeli ground incursion into Gaza could result in an escalation from its allied armed groups and even trigger a regional war.

The global community remains deeply divided over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with these massive protests serving as a stark reminder of the passionate support that exists for Palestinians in many parts of the world. As Israel prepares for a possible ground invasion of Gaza, the calls for peace and an end to the violence intensify, hoping to bring relief to the suffering civilians caught in the crossfire.