Thousands march in Boston to call for a ceasefire in Gaza

BOSTON – AFP

Thousands gathered in Boston on Sunday to support Palestinians and call for a cease-fire in Gaza.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 18,800 people, mostly women and children, according to the territory’s government.

The offensive came in response to Hamas October 7 attacks which resulted in the deaths of 1,139 soldiers and others, according to Israeli figures.

“Enough is enough. And that’s why people are here today, because every US politician with the power to do something about this genocide has only used that power to dehumanize Palestinians, distract from the issues and actually disrespect the American people who in the millions have been jamming their phone lines and showing up in the streets to demand the cease-fire,” Lea Kayali, organizer of the Palestinian Youth Movement, said during the protest.

“And lastly, I would just say we’re here for more than a ceasefire, we’re here for freedom of Palestinian people. So that being an end to all US funding of the Israeli government, lifting of the siege on Gaza, an end to the occupation of Palestine, because this is about more than just victimization. This is about liberation for the Palestinian people,” she added.

Rabi Dovid Feldman, member of Naturei Karta International – Jews United Against Zionism, said: “As Jewish people we are here because we are so deeply disturbed and embarrassed when all of this is being done, supposedly in our name. And sadly, the Jewish religion is being misused to justify all these times and we say no, according to Judaism, all of this is forbidden. This concept of Zionism is contrary to Judaism. This killing and stealing is criminal. Not all in international law, but in Jewish law as well.”

Sam Jonas, Tufts student and Mashpee Wampanoag tribal member, said: “We can’t, we can’t let history rewrite itself. We know the story of the Native Americans and this is what’s happening, and we can’t let it happen again, and do what you can do, you have a duty to prevent this atrocity from reoccurring.”