Palestinian supporters march through downtown Raleigh, oppose Israeli action in Gaza
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NC responds to Israel-Hamas war
Since Oct. 7, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, the ensuing war in Gaza has had an impact around the world. In the Triangle, protesters have taken to the streets, college campuses and government meetings to call for a cease-fire, aid to Gaza and the release of hostages. Here is ongoing coverage from The News & Observer.
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Fury and frustration about the Israel-Gaza war were displayed in downtown Raleigh Sunday as hundreds of pro-Palestinian supporters gathered on the Moore Square lawn to denounce Israel’s bombing and siege of Gaza.
Between chants of “Free, free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” speakers called for an end to the bombings, which began after Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7.
Hamas killed more than 1,300 Israelis that day and is estimated to have taken around 150 hostages. More than 2,600 Palestinians have since been killed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, as Israel has continuously bombarded the territory in preparation for an anticipated large-scale ground operation.
Protesters hoisted Palestinian flags and signs — some of which more broadly called for a free Palestine and several with more pointed messages that equated Israel’s actions in Gaza to the crimes committed against Jews during World War II.
Mohammad Inaya, a car salesperson in Raleigh, attended with his three young children.
“This is the least we can do from across the sea to support our people,” said Inaya, who said his parents were born in Palestine before coming to the United States in the 1970s.
The protest was one of many All Out for Palestine rallies to take place in cities nationwide this weekend. Organizers of the Raleigh event included Voices for Justice in Palestine and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. The local chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, a national organization that advocates for Palestinian rights and is against Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, also spoke Sunday.
Few, if any, of the speakers denounced Hamas, which the U.S. Government considers to be a terrorist organization. A brief call-and-response chant during the rally asserted “resistance is justified when people are occupied.”
In addition to its militant division, Hamas is a political organization that has ruled Gaza since 2007.
An hour into the rally, the protest moved into the streets as participants marched around the State Capitol Building before returning to Moore Square.
Protesters demanded the federal government cease supplying military aid to Israel. In 2016, the U.S. and Israel entered a third 10-year military aid agreement thatprovided Israel with $38 billion through 2028. Last week, President Joe Biden said the U.S. would send Israel additional military aid, including ammunition and rocket interceptors.
Israel occupies Gaza, a Palestinian territory with more than 2 million people, and has blocked food, water, and fuel supplies to the area since the Hamas attack. The United Nations has called for a ceasefire amid a mounting humanitarian crisis as Israel has ordered around 1 million Gazans to evacuated the northern part of the territory.
Pro-Israel rallies have been held in the Triangle over the past week, and a protest on Thursday at UNC-Chapel Hill attracted people on both sides of the conflict. Many Israel supporters consider the chant “From the river to the sea” to be a call for the elimination of the country and the Jewish people from that area.
On Sunday, a handful of Raleigh police formed a ring on the Moore Square lawn during the rally and stood at intersections as the march halted traffic. No Israel supporters appeared to be in the vicinity.
This story was originally published October 15, 2023 at 6:23 PM.
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