Palestine supporters gather in Sacramento streets amid fighting between Israel, Hamas
Hundreds of people gathered Saturday afternoon in downtown Sacramento to call for a free Palestine and to protest the conflict as fighting between Hamas and Israel intensified in the Gaza Strip.
The rally drew in people from across the capital region, many with ties to Palestine and others from diverse backgrounds who felt compelled to support them amid renewed bloodshed in the Mideast.
Together, they took over the sidewalks of 16th and J streets while chanting “End the apartheid, end the war” and “Viva Palestine.” Others held up Palestinian and American flags and waved antiwar banners in several languages.
“What’s going on are crimes against humanity, pure and simple,” said Tawfiq Morrar, who stood among the protesters. “So you have every single member of the human race out here because there is no way to justify what’s going on.”
Roughly 400 people were in attendance, according to officials from the California Highway Patrol’s Capitol Protection Service.
Sacramento’s rally comes one week after Hamas, which the U.S. and others consider a terrorist organization, conducted an attack on Israel — killing more than 1,300 people and taking dozens of hostages. Hamas has threatened executions of the hostages, some of whom are children. Americans are also among about 150 believed to be held by militant forces.
Israel responded by declaring war on Hamas, which is both a political faction and a military organization in Palestinian-controlled areas. In response to the attacks, Israel launched a barrage of airstrikes leading to the death of more than 2,000 Palestinians, including 700 children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
A ground invasion is also expected soon. On Friday, the Israeli military called for the evacuation of more than a million citizens from the northern Gaza Strip. Palestinians and some Egyptian officials fear that Israel ultimately hopes to push Gaza’s people out through the southern border with Egypt.
Due to the ongoing violence, rallies and protests have been held all week across the world with people standing in solidarity with both Israel and Palestine.
Earlier in the week in Sacramento, supporters of Israel had gathered to pray and wage a “spiritual war” outside a Jewish school in Granite Bay.
Fear for safety of loved ones
Saturday’s rally was clearly pro-Palestinan, with many being born in the Gaza Strip and still having families there.
Although many Palestinian supporters said the attack by Hamas were inexcusable, they expressed frustration over the “illegal settlement of Palestinian land” and what they said is the oppression of Palestinians over nearly 75 years.
“The violence must stop,” said Adeeb Alzanoon, a rally organizer and member of the Palestine American League. “But the root cause of the violence is the occupation, not what happened last week.”
Alzanoon, who came to Sacramento in 1979, said the last week had been particularly tough for many people because of the uncertainty regarding their loved ones.
“It’s been the most difficult time in our lives,” Alzanoon said. “It’s affected everyone in our house.”
Others, such as Sam Akkad, said they struggled to sleep the last few days.
“I feel guilty just going to sleep in this tranquil life that I have and these people don’t know if they’re gonna wake up alive tomorrow,” Akkad said.
Akkad was among several supporters, who brought two flags to Saturday’s rally.
He held an American flag in one hand, while a Palestinian flag wrapped around his shoulders. He conveyed love for both countries, despite a disagreement in views.
The U.S. government, and President Joe Biden, have repeatedly voiced support for Israel. On Saturday, Biden and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spoke by telephone as part of American efforts to bring humanitarian aid to the region. Biden, in calls to Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, affirmed his support for efforts to protect civilians.
The White House on Monday confirmed that it was delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, and the Pentagon was reviewing its inventories to see what else could be sent quickly to boost its ally.
The aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford and its strike group are stationed in the Eastern Mediterranean, within range to provide a host of air support or long-range strike options for Israel if requested, but also to surge U.S. military presence there to prevent the war from spilling over into a more dangerous regional conflict.
“I don’t agree with the government,” Akkad said. “But this is my country and I don’t want my tax dollars to go to killing people whether they are Palestinian, Jews or anybody. Humans are humans and we will have to abide by the laws of humanity.”
This story was originally published October 14, 2023 at 3:27 PM.
