Jakarta – Thousands of Indonesians have held street rallies to condemn Israel's offensive in the Middle East as the capital Jakarta braced for a major protest.

The demonstration in the capital of the world's most populous Muslim nation, dubbed the "action of millions of believers," was to march through the city centre and end up at the US embassy here.

Jakarta police said they were expecting thousands to take part in the rallies, which come a day after the Asian Muslim Youth Movement said it was prepared to send hardliners to attack Jewish interests in countries that back Israel.

In Indonesia's second-largest city Surabaya, some 1,500 Muslims held a march Sunday to condem Israeli attacks in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, ElShinta radio reported. The demonstrators also raised funds for aid with a "one dollar, one person" campaign that has already raised some 150 million rupiah (16,500 dollars), the report said.

In the city of Yogyakarta, some 3,000 people from various Islamic organisations gathered near the city's main post office to hold an open protest against Israel and the United States, it said. A similar protest involving hundreds of people took place in the city of Medan, it said.