Protests continued on Monday in various American cities, where groups took to the streets to express support for Palestinians and condemn Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes and military operations following a deadly attack by Hamas against Israeli civilians over the weekend.
Despite the longstanding U.S. support for Israel, an essential ally in the Middle East, there has been a notable surge in support for Palestinians in several American cities.
In New York City, both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian supporters gathered on Monday amid Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Tensions ran high, leading to shouting matches between the two groups. Police officers intervened to prevent confrontations, and several skirmishes were quickly broken up.
On Sunday, a protest in New York organized by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a group with several members in the U.S. House of Representatives, including members of “the Squad,” took place in Times Square and progressed to Bryant Park near the Israeli Consulate. The DSA placed the blame for the attack on Israel, citing it as a result of Israel’s “apartheid regime” and its financial support from the United States.
Hamas launched thousands of missiles at Israel and conducted an invasion along the Gaza border on Saturday, resulting in a high death toll, with at least 700 reported fatalities in Israel. Thousands more were wounded, leading Israel to declare war against the Iran-backed group. Hamas also took hostages, including young children, according to Israeli authorities.
The conflict has resulted in over 1,600 deaths and thousands wounded on both sides. Supporters of Palestinians are calling for Israel to cease targeting civilians, as numerous buildings have been destroyed during continuous airstrikes in the densely populated Gaza Strip.
Critics argue that the media coverage of the conflict has been one-sided, with Palestinian suffering receiving less attention compared to that of their Israeli counterparts.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly informed President Biden of the necessity for a ground operation in the Gaza Strip following Hamas’s deadly attacks on Israel.
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Clashes between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators also occurred in Florida, where confrontations erupted, leading to fights that police tried to separate. Similar skirmishes took place in Kirkland, Washington, highlighting the intense emotions surrounding the issue.
