Thousands of Iranians took to the streets in cities across the country on Saturday to protest against Israel's relentless bombardment of Gaza. The demonstrations, held under the slogan "Palestine is not alone", aimed to show solidarity with the "oppressed children of Gaza", as reported by local media.

According to Palestinian authorities, Israel's air and ground campaign has claimed the lives of approximately 12,000 individuals in the Palestinian territory, including 5,000 children. In response to the group's October 7 attacks, which Israeli officials claim resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 individuals, mostly civilians, and the capture of 240 people, Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas.

Commander Hossein Salami from the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned at the rally in Tehran, which was broadcasted live on state TV, that Israel was heading towards a long and bloody war with Hamas. Salami proclaimed that "Israel will face a definitive defeat and end up in the dustbin of history." He also stated that the battle was not over and declared that the Islamic world still had untapped capacities to take action.

During the demonstrations in Tehran, protesters waved Palestinian flags and held banners reading "Down with America" and "Down with Israel". Some individuals set fire to Israeli flags, while others waved the flags of Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia group and ally of Iran, which has been engaged in border skirmishes with Israel since October 7. State television coverage showcased protesters carrying bundled white shrouds to symbolize the children killed in Gaza, ahead of World Children's Day on Monday.

Similar rallies took place in major cities such as Shiraz, Kerman, and Isfahan. Earlier this week, hundreds of body bags were displayed in Palestine Square in Tehran as a protest against the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza.

Support for the Palestinian cause has been a cornerstone of Iran's foreign policy since the 1979 Islamic revolution. While Iran has financially and militarily supported Hamas, it has denied any involvement in the October 7 attacks. Iran has strongly condemned Israel's bombardment of Gaza, labeling it as "genocide", and has criticized the United States for its support of Israel.

Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Nasser Kanani, expressed dismay at Israel's "attacks" on hospitals in Gaza. This statement came as hundreds of individuals evacuated Gaza's main al-Shifa Hospital, where more than 2,000 patients, medics, and displaced people were trapped. Israel claimed to be conducting military operations inside the hospital, alleging the presence of a Hamas operations center; a charge Hamas has denied.

As tensions and casualties continue to rise, the protests in Iran signify the strong condemnation and support for the people of Gaza from the Iranian public.

(Note: This news article is based on the information provided and does not imply endorsement or agreement with any of the mentioned entities or actions.)