Tensions are flaring on the East Side, with dueling rallies over the war in Israel.
Pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian supporters gathered outside the Israel consulate starting at 2 p.m. Monday.
There were passionate pleas from both sides, speaking to New Yorkers who have relatives in both Israel and the Palestinian territories.
The NYPD stepped up security to make sure things didn’t get out of hand.
I have friends in Gaza and I’m really fucking scared for their life’s. In fact, I have been scared for them a long time because Israel is bombing civilian buildings regularly. Yes it’s terrible what Hamas is doing to Israeli civilians, punishing Gazan civilians is not the answer. I hate the Israeli government for what they’re doing to my friends. A lot of the people out there protesting have friends and family in Gaza and are very afraid as well.
In polarising conflicts as these it is very important to look at the human side of things and to not condemn a whole group of people for what a small group is doing. I have much compassion for Israeli people who are afraid right now. But I also understand the need to speak out about an ethnic cleansing that is possibly about to happen by the Israeli government. Just look at the Amnesty International reports about the situation in Israel and occupied Palestinian territories. Humanitary crimes have been happening for years and years without any intervention, killing and hurting people on a much bigger scale than what hamas is doing right now. It is impossible to deny the hypocrisy by the west.