HOUSTON — The impacts of the Israel-Hamas war have been felt by the hundreds of people who gathered outside of Houston City Hall Saturday to stand in solidarity with Gaza.
Many of the Palestinian supporters gathered at city hall for a second weekend in a row were calling for peace.
"To express our discontent and our frustration with the continued ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people and the silence of the U.S. government, if not a vocal active support for the perpetuation of Israel's genocide against the Palestinian people," Fouad Salah with the Palestinian Youth Movement said.
Protesters pushed for the U.S. to halt funding to Israel, which they said is contributing to the deaths of innocent civilians in Gaza.
"We want for the U.S. government to play a role that pressures the Israeli government to reach a cease-fire with the Palestinians," said Palestinian-American Mohammed Hisam.
Just this week, President Joe Biden announced $100 billion in wartime aid for both Israel and Ukraine while also asking Congress for $100 million in relief efforts and humanitarian aid in Gaza, which some say isn't enough.
"As long as the bombing continues, as long as the siege continues, that humanitarian aid is a drop in the bucket, it's not something that's going to address the root cause of the needs of the Palestinian people which is an end to the actual war campaign," Hisam said.
President Biden has made It very clear that the U.S. will continue to support its allies, which includes Israel, in order to keep America safe and American troops out of harm's way.
"What the Palestinians want is the end of a siege, right, a 16-year siege on the Gaza strip that controls their everyday lives, what they want is an end to a military occupation that governs the lives of Palestinians and what they want is actual reclamation of their rights," Hisam said.
Organizers with the Free Palestine movement said they will continue to protest and march until the Palestinian people are freed.
The rally was peaceful, but Houston police said one person was arrested there for illegally carrying a firearm.
On Sunday, leaders with the local Israeli community will hold a rally at city hall as the war continues to rage on.