Crowd Demands U.S. Action Amid Controversy Over Rafah Incursion
A gathering of Palestinian supporters assembled outside the Wilshire Federal Building in Westwood on Monday afternoon, protesting against Israel’s recent actions in Gaza, as reported by KTLA and ABC 7 News. The demonstration was in response to the attacks in Rafah, where over 100 people, including children, lost their lives as Israeli forces carried out a rescue operation for two hostages.
Named “Hands Off Rafah,” the event aimed to shed light on the situation in the southern Gaza city, where over 1 million Palestinians sought refuge, as reported by NPR. Despite assurances of safety, Israeli air strikes and a planned ground invasion may force these refugees to relocate after four months of ongoing conflict.
While Israel justifies its military actions in Rafah as necessary to eliminate Hamas, the group responsible for the October 7 attack, some, including American officials, are urging more substantial efforts to protect civilians, with a death toll reaching at least 28,000.
In Westwood, the organization LA4Palestine, along with its supporters, brandished Palestinian flags and called for the U.S. to withhold aid to Israel until what they termed “apartheid” conditions cease within the country.