Rally calling for peace in Gaza held outside Rep. Neal’s office
SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - Dozens of people gathered in Springfield on Tuesday in support of humanitarian aid and peace in Gaza as the Israel-Hamas war rages on. The event comes just days after a ruling from the United Nation’s top court that could help provide some help to those in need overseas.
Across the state, rallies like the one in Springfield occurred at the offices of several congressional leaders across the commonwealth. Their cries filled the skies as bright signs and spirited protestors stood squarely in front of U.S. Congressman Richard Neal’s Springfield district office to demand more be done to help end the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza strip.
“We’re here to tell our representatives that we need them to uphold the ICJ’s ruling,” said Mehlaqa Samdani, an organizer of the Springfield event.
Samdani’s demands come on the heels of the International Court of Justice’s scathing unanimous decision that Israel must take all measures possible to prevent genocide in the war-torn region as the bloodshed continues.
“Over the past 15 weeks, 27,000 Palestinians have been killed. It’s hard to get your head around that number,” Samdani added. “We need to uphold international laws, international humanitarian laws, and the genocide convention to which our government is a signatory.”
However, those pressures don’t stop at the Israeli’s doorstep. Protestors told Western Mass News that there’s work that needs to be done…
“Because the response from the administration has been so dismal in its response, we are reaching out to our congressional reps to speak on our behalf,” Samdani explained. “The first thing our government needs to do is call for a ceasefire immediately.”
The rallygoers said that the U.S. needs to cut-off Israel, no more weapons should be sent, and that aid needs to be redirected to provide humanitarian help for countless Palestinians in dire need of assistance.
[Reporter: You drove an hour and fifteen minutes to get here today, why?]
“Because it’s nothing compared to what the people in Gaza are doing. Just think about what their lives are like out there,” said protestor Henry Rose.
Their chants and their screams won’t stop until their demands and the ICJ’s ruling are implemented.
“…And peace negotiations, that can have an enduring peace are seriously undertaken,” Rose added.
We did reach out to Neal’s office, but have yet to hear back.
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