Thousands of Palestinians protesting at the US-led assault on Iraq yesterday took to the streets of the West Bank and Gaza Strip bearing portraits of Saddam Hussein.
While they urged the Iraqi leader to fire Scud missiles at Israeli cities, militant Islamic groups called on Iraqis to carry out suicide missions against US troops.
In scenes reminiscent of the 1991 Gulf war, when some Palestinians cheered as the Scuds hit Israel, protesters chanted, "Our beloved Saddam, hit Tel Aviv."
In at least one rally in Gaza, a call was heard for the Iraqi leader to unleash chemical weapons on Israel.
Not all the anger, however, was aimed at Israel and the US. Protesters also berated many Arab leaders, including Egyptian President Mr Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah, who they labelled "traitors" for not overtly backing Iraq.
In the Old City of Jerusalem there were clashes between police and Palestinian worshippers who began chanting pro-Iraqi slogans at the end of Friday prayers at the Al Aqsa Mosque. Palestinians reported several people were injured as a result of teargas inhalation.
Leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad yesterday urged the Iraqi people to follow their example and carry out suicide missions against allied forces, just like Islamic militants have done inside Israeli cities.
"Iraqis should prepare explosive belts and would-be martyrs (suicide bombers) to combat the US occupiers," said Abdel Aziz-al-Rantissi, a Hamas leader in Gaza.
Saddam Hussein has won support in the Occupied Territories, partly because of the millions of dollars he has paid to the Palestinian families of suicide bombers and civilians killed in Israeli military raids.