COTABATO, Philippines-- Thousands of people gathered in the southern Philippines on Monday to protest Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip in response to deadly cross-border raids by Hamas militants.

Participants waved Palestinian flags, painted their cheeks with the Palestinian colors, and shed tears as they prayed.

Speakers at the protest called for a halt to the Israeli military operations and urged the United States and the United Nations to stay neutral in the conflict.

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The predominantly Catholic Philippines has a large Muslim minority based mainly in the southern region that endured decades of armed Islamic separatist insurgencies until a peace treaty was signed nine years ago.

The four-hour peaceful protest was held at a public park in Cotabato, a city with more than 200,000 Muslim residents.

Cotabato police put the number of protesters at about 25,000.

Placards read "Free Palestine!" and "Bangsamoro against injustices", referring to the Muslim self-ruled region on Mindanao.

Uniformed police and soldiers stayed discreetly nearby.

"The protest has just been concluded without incident," Cotabato police officer Marouf Guiali told AFP by telephone at sundown.

© Agence France-Presse

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