HOUSTON — Some called it an emergency mobilization as hundreds of protesters gathered near the Israeli consulate in Houston on Wednesday to show their support for the Palestinian people.
"Lots of emotion in the crowd today," said Noor Salam, a member of the Palestinian Youth Movement.
The protest was called in the wake of a deadly blast at a hospital in Gaza although United States officials said Israel wasn't responsible for the attack.
The protest was organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement, which has held several protests since Israel declared war on Hamas.
They said what's happening in Gaza is genocide and inhumane. They're calling for a ceasefire and for humanitarian assistance for Gaza as the civilian death toll continues to climb.
Israel officials said they're not targeting civilians and the conflict was started by Hamas when their attack killed more than 1,400 people, including Americans.
Protesters said the world is turning a blind eye to the suffering of innocent civilians in Gaza.
"The Palestinian people have endured a multi-decade occupation meaning they’re under military occupation and under international law they have a right to resist that occupation," Palestinian-American Mohammed Hisam said.
The Israeli defense minister announced a complete siege of Gaza, preventing the entry of basic necessities like electricity, fuel and food.
"Every time we show up here, every time it gets news coverage, the people of Gaza and the people of Palestine know that we’re here and they keep fighting," Rice University student Anna Rajagopal said.
The protesters said they were fighting for a call to end the occupation of Gaza despite the Hamas attacks on Israel nearly two weeks ago.
"This is a culmination of events over the last 75 years of colonization of Palestinian land in an attempt to ethnically cleanse them from the land," Salam said.
"If we want to actually address the root cause of the violence, we have to address the occupation, we have to address the denial of human rights, the right to movement, the right to education, the right to healthcare," Hisam said.
Global calls to mobilize from afar continue to grow.
"It's our responsibility as people, as people in Houston, as colonized people of the global south to come out and show our support for Palestine and to demand an end to the siege on Gaza," Rajagopal said.
Organizers of Wednesday's demonstration are planning another protest on Saturday at 2 p.m. on the steps of City Hall in as tensions on the Gaza-Israel border continue to escalate.
It's also unfolding after a Houston hotel called off a conference being hosted by the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights out of fear for the safety of their staff and guests. Some high-profile speakers were scheduled to take part in the conference, including Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American in Congress. The conference had been planned long before war broke out in the Holy Land.
Palestinians at the protest said they had been looking forward to attending the conference and were disappointed with the hotel's decision.
"The organization is about Palestinian rights. We're fighting for rights, but the narrative of right-wing, zionist ideology is to dehumanize our movement," Palestinian Youth Movement's Fouad Salah said.
Tension is running high and local leaders and law enforcement officials are encouraging Houstonians to remain peaceful at the protest.
"Let's work through these difficult times, but let's do it with the greatest degree of civility and respect and recognize when one hurts, we all hurt," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner echoed Turner's comments and asked protesters to be respectful.
"We respect all groups. We understand the emotions involved in this, but come out and peacefully protest. You have your First Amendment right. Don't come out and assault anybody and tear up anybody's property," Finner said.
The protest was held in the Greenway Plaza area along Weslayan and the Southwest Freeway. It started at about 4 p.m. and was expected to last until about 8 p.m.