BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Widespread demonstrations erupted across the Middle East, from Tehran to Beirut, in response to Israel's second day of bombing against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, sparking worry over wider regional unrest.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a religious directive, or fatwa, calling on Muslims to stand up and defend Palestinians against Israel. Though Mr. Khamenei didn't spell out exactly what he intended, his comments were seized upon in Iran as the latest rallying cry against Israel.
Over the weekend, images of bloody and maimed victims of the attacks plastered front pages of newspapers and played across Arab satellite channels.
Demonstrations against the attacks were staged in Arab capitals, including Beirut and Amman, Jordan. Protests turned violent in the Palestinian enclave of the West Bank. "I am very upset with what is happening in Gaza. The Israelis have no justification to kill people," said Aziza Sakr, a Lebanese lawyer.
In Damascus, Syria, more than 5,000 people took to the streets burning Israeli and American flags. In Jordan, protesters called for the deportation of Israel's ambassador. In Iran, students staged protests at universities. In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood accused Arab leaders, particularly those with close ties to the U.S., of being culpable in Israel's attacks on Gaza.
A crowd of 1,000 protesters gathered outside the office of the United Nations in downtown Beirut, chanting "Death to Israel" and waving Palestinian flags.
Tensions were especially high in Lebanon, where the Shiite political and militant group Hezbollah fought a 34-day war with Israel in 2006.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah criticized other Arab leaders for failing to show solidarity with Palestinians and warned that Israel may use the standoff with Hamas as an excuse to attack Lebanon. "We are not afraid. We are ready to face any aggression against our territory and dignity," Mr. Nasrallah said. He called for protests Monday in Beirut's Shiite suburb of Dahiyeh and across the Arab world.
Lebanon canceled leave for its troops. The state news agency reported that at least five Israeli warplanes flew low over south Lebanon on Sunday.
Analysts in Beirut said Hezbollah is unlikely to initiate an attack on Israel and drag Lebanon into another war, but they say that rogue militant groups, some from among extremists in the Palestinian camps in the country, might try to launch an attack from Lebanese territories into northern Israel.
—Nada Raad contributed to this article. Write to Farnaz Fassihi at farnaz.fassihi@wsj.com
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