Protests Against Israeli Attacks on Gaza Held in Beirut, New York, London, Cairo, San Francisco, Athens, Paris, Baghdad

Julia Bodeeb
More than 315 people have been killed in the attacks on Gaza. As Israel's Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, announces that the attacks on Gaza will be "war to the bitter end" the hyperbole and bombs continue to flame protests throughout the world, including Lebanon. Chaos reigns in the Middle East as large protests against the attacks on Gaza by Israel occur in many capital cities throughout the world. Why do world leaders, typically male, insist on believing that bombs will solve conflict?

MSNBC reports that in Beirut, Lebanon, Hezbollah supporters thronged South Beirut in support of Hamas. Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, urges the Lebanese to support Hamas and declared Monday a day of mourning to show solidarity with Gaza. This certainly seems to support rumors that Hezbollah may be aiding Hamas by supplying arms, financing, and terrorists.

Hatred to Israel in Lebanon has been at a fever pitch since the 2006 war between Lebanon and Israel. Now, as crowds chant "death to Israel" according to MSNBC, tensions in Lebanon rise.

Other protests against the bombing of Gaza have occurred in Cairo, London, New York City, Paris, Baghdad, Athens, Boston, San Francisco and other cities worldwide.

The BBC reports that in London "The UK government has urged an immediate halt to violence in Gaza." Protestors threw red liquids at the gate of the Israeli embassy to symbolize bloodshed in Gaza.

IndyMedia reports that in San Francisco, the Arab Organizing and Resource Center held a protest with activists speaking of the "connections between Palestinian and other indigenous struggles against genocide as well as the complicity of US taxpayers in the atrocity."

I hope any tax dollars I've ever given to the US government have not been spent on F-16 jets used to bomb Gaza and Lebanon. I do not think bombs solve problems. I see the faces of children in Gaza who have been injured or killed and it reminds me that the world is full of so much hatred. I cannot see a child who is clearly in shock, or who is covered with blood, or who is dead without thinking that the attacks on Gaza are a crime against humanity.

Gaza's small area is crammed with humanity; 1.5 million people reside in Gaza. 315 people have died in the Gaza attacks. Too many of them were innocent children. I am in solidarity with protestors worldwide who condemn the bombing of Gaza. I hope that someday Gaza will obtain peace, freedom, and statehood. I pray for peace and diplomacy.

For information about the quest for peace in Gaza visit the websites: www.FreeGaza.org and www.PeaceNow.org.

Sources:

www.msnbc.com

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/12/28/18556785.php

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7802078.stm

Published by Julia Bodeeb

Winner, Pulitzer Center Global Issues contest (Washington, DC), semi-finalist: The Nation's poetry contest. Published in newspapers, magazines and many online websites. Sold jokes to a major comic. Over a...   View profile

9 Comments

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  • Hossein 1/8/2009

    Why US and European governments give the tax where people pay, to Israel to do these war crimes and associate their nations in blood of women and innocent children? Hamas was selected with Palestine nation vote. Why Israel surrounds Gaza and don't let wounded persons receive food and drug? Isn't Israel a occupier?? Isn't this an unfair war? Who has equipped Israel with F16 fighter plane?
    I think Democracy and Human rights is a big lie in West.

  • Larry Shapiro 12/31/2008

    Stop speculating about such nonsense as "If terrorists were sending rockets into california" etc..absurd. It's always "IF"..Israel is at war?? With who? Innocent Palestinian women and children...along with the terrorists of Hamas?? And we protest about nothing we know about?I know that Israel gets rewarded for genocide with our tax dollars. We want the US to stop funding Israel.You are naive' "the One who Knows"-ego maniac,narcissist!

  • The one who knows. 12/30/2008

    Hamas send rockets to few cities in Israel in the past few years, in the last few months there was a
    cease fire" but it ended last week, Hamas said that they are not interested of extending the "cease fire" (other groups did not stop attacking Israel during the so called "cease fire" between Israel and Hamas).
    Its very easy to seat back and judge others by not knowing the truth, but assume that terrorist group was sending Rockets into California! Think about your peaceful life being interrupted!
    but maybe I'm giving you guys too much credit, after all, all you so is Protest against something that you have no idea.

    so yes, there is no winners in war, in both sides, but in this conflict Hamas must go down, for both sides sake.

  • Partnet 12/30/2008

    Those countries have to put bones on their spine and quit fighting. More Americans dying for non Americans while other Americans get in jail for protecting their border.

  • Mary 12/29/2008

    Well said. I protested in SF and will continue to do so.

    Israel supporters should donate their own money, and lay their blood stained hands off my tax money.

  • Julia Bodeeb 12/29/2008

    Clark I do not think Hamas is innocent. I do however think Israel is using too much bomb power to try to take out Hamas.

  • Clark Richards 12/29/2008

    I guess you are among those that believe Israel just goes about indiscriminately killing innocent people. The rockets that Hamas has launched into Israel over the past year killing and terrorising the Israeli citizenry are a figment of an over active imagination. Hamas hides amongst the population of Gaza. Israel forcibly removed their own citizens from Gaza in hopes that it would lead to peace, but Hamas has simply used it as a base for continued attacks against Israel. It is a shame that Hamas has forced this response. I join the Israeli's in praying for peace and stability in the region - now if only Hamas would agree to stop the killing there could be a peace.

  • Anne Stjern 12/29/2008

    It's always the innocent and powerless who suffer. Such a waste.

  • Carol Bengle Gilbert 12/29/2008

    Amen.

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