State mourning for Palestinians: In solidarity with Bangladesh, US Embassy to fly flag at half-staff on Saturday

The United States (US) Embassy in Dhaka will fly its flag at half-staff on Saturday in solidarity with Bangladesh’s one-day state mourning over the deaths of Palestinians in Israeli attacks.

Ambassador Peter Haas has ordered the US Embassy flag to be flown at half-staff on the day, according to a press statement from the Embassy released on Friday.

The US mourns every innocent life lost, it said. Quoting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, it added, “We mourn civilians of every faith and every nationality who have been killed in the conflict.”

On Thursday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced a one-day mourning for Saturday, commemorating the deaths of Palestinians from recent Israeli attacks.

The national flags will be hoisted at half mast on the day, she said.

The premier also called for offering special prayers in all mosques across the country after the Jumu'ah prayer on Friday and other worship places at their convenient times seeking eternal peace of the departed souls and quick recovery of the injured Palestinians in Israeli attacks.

Bangladesh has already denounced the attacks on a Gaza hospital that left over 500 people, including women and children, dead and hundreds injured.

"The repeated (Israeli) attacks on them (Palestinians) can't be tolerated anymore. We can't tolerate it," she said.

Referring to her Wednesday's meeting with the OIC member countries envoys at her official Ganabhaban residence in Dhaka city, she said, "We (Muslim Ummah) have to work together to realise the rights of Palestinians."

The premier reiterated Bangladesh's steadfast stance in favour of Palestine, saying, "We are always with them (Palestinians)."

She announced that Bangladesh would send medicines, dry foods and other necessary items to the people of war-torn Palestine.

"We will send medicines, dry food and necessary commodities for women and children. We've taken this step. We're always beside the distressed people with whatever resources we have," she added.

Sheikh Hasina said she has already asked the Health Ministry to take steps to send medicines to the Palestinians.

Moreover, the prime minister also reiterated her appeal to global leaders to stop the war and arms race.