Sana'a, Yemen - August 02, 2024

Storyline:
Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis gathered in Sanaa's Al-Sabeen Square on Friday to show solidarity with Gazans and denounce the killings of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah senior military commander Fuad Shukr.

In what Hamas called a "day of furious rage," the protesters chanted slogans condemning Israel and the United States, with many waving Palestinian flags and holding up posters of Haniyeh and Shuker.

Haniyeh was assassinated Wednesday in the Iranian capital of Tehran. Hamas and Iran have blamed Israel for the killing but Israel has not confirmed or denied responsibility.

The assassination came hours after Fuad Shukr was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut's southern suburb.

In Saada, northern Yemen, the stronghold of the Houthis, thousands of protesters took to the streets early in the morning. They expressed anger over the deaths of Haniyeh and Shukr and called for a strong response from all fronts in the so-called Axis of Resistance.

The Houthi group, now controlling large swathes of northern Yemen, is aligned with the anti-Israel Axis of Resistance, which also includes Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and militant groups in Iraq, among others.

Protests in Yemen have continued non-stop since October 7 last year. Demonstrators are renewing calls for the international community to stop the Israeli war on Gaza. They warn the conflict could escalate to an uncontrollable level.

The main message from the growing protests in Yemen is that Yemenis are unwavering in their support for the Palestinian people, both publicly and militarily.

Shotlist:
Saada/Sanaa, Yemen - Aug 2, 2024:
1. Various of protesters chanting slogan, waving flags, pictures of killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah senior military commander Fuad Shukr;
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Jalal Al-Ruwaishan, deputy prime minister in the Sana'a government (starting with shot 1):
"This march is distinguished by its dedication to the blood of the martyrs, and affirms that the battle is ongoing and persistent. Sanaa will not change its stance. Rather, Sanaa has been engaged in a direct battle with the Zionist enemy since the second day of the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood (Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel)."
3. Various of protesters;
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mohsen Al-Rasas, protester (starting with shot 3):
"We came out in millions-strong crowds with a sense of eagerness and anticipation, as we engage in direct warfare against the Israeli enemy and continuously escalate and develop our military capabilities from one stage to another."
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Iyad Shamlan, protester:
"We came out today to condemn the blatant and heinous crimes committed by the Israeli enemy, particularly the targeting of great leaders and the Axis of Resistance leadership. Our message to the enemy is that the blood of the free martyrs, Ismail Haniyeh and Fuad Shukr, will not go in vain."
6. Various of protesters.

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