Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in the US during the weekend of protests, with the majority demanding an end to Israel’s military operation in Gaza. The protesters in support of Palestine, primarily composed of Muslims, grew restless as Israel planned to proceed with a military offensive. A small number of demonstrators also included Jews and Christians.
Pro-Israel groups, including some formed by Muslims, were visible in the streets, showing their support for the Israeli offensive. In New York, daily protests have been ongoing since Thursday, as thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators gather to condemn Israeli bombings in the Gaza Strip and call for an end to Israeli occupation. They occupied multiple blocks in Times Square and other areas.
Moreover, in Washington, a pro-Israel group found itself vastly outnumbered by pro-Palestine demonstrators. About 200 Israel supporters gathered outside Freedom Plaza near the White House, compared to an estimated 10,000 who marched around the White House in support of Palestinians.
Furthermore, some protesters rallied to de-escalate tensions. At the White House rally, certain supporters of Palestine urged Americans to consider the broader issues beyond Hamas’ attacks. “Not all of us hate Jews or Israelis,” said M. Nabeel, a Palestinian. “But we too need a place to call home, a place to live peacefully.”
In Los Angeles, thousands of demonstrators, carrying Palestinian flags and denouncing Israeli apartheid, marched down Wilshire Boulevard on Saturday afternoon.
Stereotypes
Worries about the consequences of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict led Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a 2024 presidential front-runner, to demand that the US government not accept refugees from Gaza, stating that “they are all radicalized” and “none of them believe in Israel’s right to exist.” Former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, another 2024 contender, concurred on not accepting refugees from Gaza but cautioned against making generalizations.
At the same time, the generalization surrounding the conflict has already begun, as a group of Pakistanis gathered at a South Asian restaurant in Northern Virginia after a pro-Palestinian rally in Washington. Some passengers questioned a cab driver, N. Khan, about why Muslims supported terrorists attacking innocent citizens, to which he clarified that not all Muslims are terrorists and that those were Hamas fighters, not ordinary Palestinians.
The escalating tensions prompted FBI Director Christopher A. Wray to warn Americans about an expected increase in domestic threats. He acknowledged a rise in reported threats and expressed concern about lone actors taking inspiration from recent events. Director Wray urged the public to continue sharing intelligence with the FBI.
