Protesting Israel’s actions

Every Friday for the last seven years they’ve been there, protesting what they consider an unjust war in Iraq. But this Friday, they took on a different conflict — Israel’s shelling of the Gaza Strip, an offensive the government said it launched to stop rocket attacks from the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

“We’re protesting in support of the people of Gaza who are being unjustly invaded by Israel, and Israel is a surrogate of the United States,” said protest organizer Chuck Anderson.

Anderson and other volunteers have been protesting at Bristol Street and Anton Boulevard for years, he said. Friday, a handful paralleled demonstrations in Los Angeles where people were also protesting Israel’s bombing in the Gaza Strip. It’s been widely reported that Israel is targeting Hamas weapons caches and party leaders in Gaza, many of whom are in civilian-heavy areas. Hamas took over the land in 2007 after routing the U.S.-supported Fatah government, which takes a more moderate stance toward Israel.

Hundreds have reportedly been killed in Gaza since the bombing began last week, many civilians. Israel said it will continue to bombard Hamas until rockets launched from the region into Israel stop. A cease-fire between Hamas and Israel expired in December.

— Joseph Serna