Protesters in downtown Rochester call for cease-fire in Gaza

Protesters in downtown Rochester call for cease-fire in Gaza

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Dozens of protesters marched down State Street in downtown Rochester to call for a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas.

The protesters marched from City Hall to the Federal Building Downtown. They said they’re concerned at the number of civilian causalities in Gaza and want the Biden administration to do more. The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 30,000.

“There is now a very large number of people concentrated in Rafah because they’ve been pushed south by the Israeli military,” Zora Gussow said.

Gussow, with the group Jewish Voice for Peace, joined the crowd outside City Hall calling for an end to the war in Gaza.

“If Israel moves ahead with a bombing in Rafah, like they said they are going to do, it means its more dire than it’s been,” Gussow said.

Marching up and down the street, Jonathan Khoury says he showed up to the rally to stand with the Palestinian people.

“There is nowhere else for the Palestinians to go. They have been bombed north to south and the situation is increasingly, every day becoming that much more catastrophic,” Khoury said.

Israel has essentially accepted the proposed framework of a Gaza ceasefire. However, officials note that the framework is to be accepted if Hamas agrees to release sick, elderly, and women hostages.

As talks for a ceasefire appear to move forward, aid has begun going into Gaza. The United Nations said teams delivered aid to people on Friday.

The protest comes after more than 100 Palestinians were killed while hoping to get food from aid trucks in Gaza City on Thursday.