Religious group holds prayer rally for peace in Israel, Gaza at QMC
By Hannah Nicol
Members of religious organizations lit candles and offered flowers and prayers during a rally for pace at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City, on Sunday, Oct. 22, and also expressed their support for Israel in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Around 1,000 members of the Philippines Stands with Israel participated in the event to show their support for Israel.
Philippine Stands with Israel is a diverse group composed of Israelis, Filipinos, Christians, and Jews, organized by various church organizations.
It is a non-profit organization that aims to raise awareness on terror attacks, support Israel in the conflict, and extend help to those who are affected.
On Saturday, the group conducted a prayer rally in Quezon City.
The rally aimed to pray for peace and show solidarity with the victims of the ongoing hostilities between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles, all decorated with Israeli flags and blue and white balloons, drove through the main streets of Metro Manila.
The event ended with the laying of flowers and candle lighting at the Quezon Memorial Circle.
The solidarity event initially started on Oct. 14, exactly a week after the Israel war started on Oct. 7.
The Embassy of Israel in the Philippines expressed solidarity with the families of the four overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were brutally killed by Hamas.
They also shared the grief experienced by the bereaved loved ones of those who were kidnapped and killed in the war.
The Embassy of Israel in the Philippines also conveyed its appreciation to the event's organizers and its attendees for the remarkable display of support to the country.
Hamas initiated a barrage of thousands of rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory.
Simultaneously, militants infiltrated various locations within Israel, on Saturday morning, Oct. 7.
The attack prompted the Israeli government to declare a state of war against the militant group.
The attack on Israel took place on the occasion of the Jewish festival of Simchat Torah, a day typically reserved for joyous celebrations.