BEIRUT: Lebanese Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah made a rare public appearance on Friday to show solidarity with Gaza on the annual Iran-led Jerusalem Day commemoration, a correspondent reported.

It was only the fifth public appearance by the head of the Shiite militant group, who has topped Israel’s wanted list since even before their deadly conflict in 2006.

Nasrallah appeared on stage from behind a curtain to wild applause from the thousands in the crowd at the indoor venue in a southern suburb of the Lebanese capital.

Jerusalem Day, celebrated every year on the last Friday in the Muslim fasting month of Ramazan, was this year dedicated to “solidarity with the people and the resistance in Gaza”.

As the Palestinian death toll in 18 days of the Israeli onslaught on Gaza topped 800, Nasrallah announced: “Palestine is still the main cause” in the Muslim world.

Hezbollah is currently fighting rebels in Syria alongside forces loyal to President Bashir al-Assad.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2014