HOUSTON — A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continues after 11 days of fighting between the U.S. ally and Palestinians in Gaza.
The conflict has left more than 250 people dead, mostly Palestinians.
In Houston on Saturday, thousands rallied in support of Palestine. They chanted calling for the liberation of Palestine echoed through Uptown.
Supporters of Palestine gathered to protest what they call the continued aggression against Palestinian people by Israel.
Mohameed Nabulsi helped organize the Houston Stands with Palestine rally.
“Whether it’s the continued over decade long seize of Gaza, or the multiple decade occupation of the West Bank in east Jerusalem, or the second class citizen treatment of Palestinian citizens of the state of Israel also known as ‘48 Palestine,’” he said.
Nabulsi estimated more than 2,000 people attended the rally on the corner of Post Oak and Westheimer in the Galleria.
At one point, videos captured on social media show protestors breaking through a police barricade and taking over the street.
They marched toward the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park where they continued their demonstration.
“Every individual wants to be free,” Michael Khalaf, a Palestinian-American said. “They want that right anywhere in the world it doesn’t matter, every individual. We don’t want to have tyranny and oppression.”
Houston Police were able to restore the flow of traffic in the area after some delays.
Protestors like Beesan Jaser and Saraab Avery said this has nothing to do with Palestinians versus Jewish people.
They argue it’s a human rights issue.
“This is not about religion. This is about justice. That’s it,” Jaser said.
Avery added, “You can be critical of Israeli’s Zionist policies and not be anti-Semitic.”
On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Israel didn’t initiate this conflict. We were attacked in an unprovoked manner by the Hamas terrorist organization that fired four thousand rockets into our capital and into our cities. No country will sit aside when it’s attacked in such a criminal fashion. Israel is no different.”
For those who stand with Palestine more than 7,100 miles away in Houston the fight for freedom continues.