Demonstrators gathered in several American cities on Sunday and Monday to show support for Palestinians and condemn Israel following a surprise deadly attack by Hamas against Israeli civilians over the weekend. Despite the US government’s support for Israel as a key Middle East ally, a surge of support for Palestinians has been witnessed across the country. Protests in New York City saw clashes between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian supporters, with police intervening to prevent confrontations. Similar clashes occurred in Tampa, Florida, and Kirkland, Washington.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in a high death toll, with over 1,600 people killed and thousands wounded on both sides. Hamas launched thousands of missiles at Israel and invaded towns along the Gaza border, prompting Israel to declare war against the Iran-backed group. Palestinian supporters are calling for Israel to halt the killing of civilians as continuous airstrikes in the densely populated Gaza Strip have led to the destruction of several buildings.
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a group that includes six members of the US House of Representatives, organized a protest in New York City, blaming Israel for the attack and calling it an apartheid regime. The DSA faced condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans for their stance. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that a ground operation in the Gaza Strip is necessary to counter the attacks by Hamas.
The conflict has garnered widespread media coverage, with many Palestinian supporters claiming that their suffering is not given equal attention compared to that of Israelis. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has vowed to finish the war forced upon his country by Hamas, saying they have made a historic mistake. Clashes between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian supporters have also been reported in Tampa and Kirkland.
The situation remains tense as the world closely watches the developments in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
