MILWAUKEE — As the Israel-Hamas war continues, Iran’s attack on Israel over the weekend signaled heightened tensions overseas. Americans have been divided over the United States’ handling of the conflict.
The Wisconsin for Justice in Palestine group held a rally on Monday in Milwaukee, standing in solidarity with Gaza, demanding justice and calling for an end to violence.
Monday’s rally was a part of the National Strike for Gaza: No Work, No School, No Spending Campaign.
Abdallah Badwan is from the West Bank. At the rally, he led others in a chant saying, “Palestine will be free.”
He said he thought about a loved one he recently lost to violence on the West Bank.
“The kid’s name that is directly affected to me and related to my family. His name is Ahmed Adbel Hamad,” said Badwan. “This guy is one of thousands that have died in this conflict and he is not just a number.”
Badwan said there are so many people in Wisconsin and across the U.S. who have lost loved ones in this conflict.
“I am a human that believes in human rights and believes in democracy and believes in everything that this country stands for and not just because I’m Palestinian,” said Badwan. “If this happened to any country in the world where civilians, if 50% of the people that are dying are women and children, I would stand in any protest.”
Munjed Ahmad organized the solidarity rally to raise awareness about the attacks in Gaza.
Ahmad said they also announced their pledge to not vote for President Joe Biden in his reelection campaign as long as the administration continues to support Israel’s actions in the region.
“Those politicians, including Joe Biden who continue to support this genocide, that we will not be voting for you and they need to understand that,” said Ahmad. “We may not have the power to get you into the White House but we sure as heck do have the power to get you out of the White House and in November, we will be voting.”
On another side of the conflict, Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel.
Miryam Rosenzweig is the president and CEO of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. She said Iran’s opposition to Israel is nothing new.
“The big difference this past weekend was that it was the first time that Iran was launching missiles, not through their proxies,” said Rosenzweig. “It didn’t come through Yemen or Syria or Libya and those who they are funding there. It came directly from Iran.”
She said she hopes that the U.S. will continue to support Israel.
“When there are 300 plus missiles and drones and ballistic and cruise missiles headed towards Israel, we were all at home, calling and praying, hoping that the defense systems that have been developed with America and Israel will keep the country safe,” said Rosenzweig.
Ahmad said he believes Iran’s attack on Israel does not help their cause.
“What we are asking for is peace. As people who represent the Palestinian cause, we certainly don’t want to see an escalation,” said Ahmad. “What we do want to see is that people are free of occupation, that people are free to live their lives.”
For Badwan, it is about standing up for peace in Gaza and the West Bank.
“If we lose our humanity towards, at that point, where is our morality as humans, we stand for nothing at that point,” said Badwan. “If you stand for nothing, like they say, you will fall for anything.”