Nearly 100 local residents gathered with local elected officials and clergy members at a “Prayer for Israel” vigil for an evening of unity and solidarity held at the Bronx Jewish Center in Pelham Parkway on Thursday, Oct. 12, following news that more than 1,200 soldiers and civilians had been killed, raped or captured in southern Israel, close to the Gaza Strip, during attacks by Hamas militia on Saturday, Oct. 7.

 

Speaking to the congregation of the temple, located at 900 Pelham Parkway, Rabbi Saadia Pewzner said, “As people, there are many different approaches, many different reactions. With one reaction, we always have to remember that mankind can do better.”

 

The rabbi continued, “Seeing the diverse group in this crowd shows a very powerful sentiment from The Bronx that doesn’t have to do with the religion. It doesn’t have to do with race. We’re all part of the human race.”

 

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark also addressed those gathered, saying, “It’s such a complicated world and for this to happen makes it so much more devastating because you see people there trying to work together, and be together, and coexist, and it can happen and for Hamas to think that it’s okay to just do that and effect so many of us is just so wrong.”

Meanwhile, Assemblyman John Zaccaro, Jr. (A.D. 80), who represents some or all of the neighborhoods of Norwood, Bedford Park, Olinville, Parkside Housing Project, Allerton, Pelham Parkway, Pelham Gardens, Little Yemen, Van Nest, Indian Village and Morris Park said, “What took place this past weekend, the biggest and largest massacre of people who died at the hands of terrorists since the holocaust it’s been said, and as I look at this room, I’m reminded that there is more that unites us than divides us.”

 

For his part, State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33), who represents some or all of the neighborhoods of Norwood, Bedford Park, Kingsbridge, Fieldston, Spuyten Duyvil, North Riverdale, Riverdale, Fordham Manor, Fordham Heights, Mt. Hope, Allerton, Pelham Parkway, Belmont, Little Yemen, Van Nest, Indian Village and Morris Park, said, “I mourn and I grieve for the lost lives and the horrendous and barbaric terrorist attack on the Jewish people, knowing that I certainly do not have wisdom enough to provide any answers. What I can do, and I will continue to do is stand in solidarity with my constituents and my sisters and brothers of the Jewish faith.”

 

According to one attendee, an active member of the Israeli military was expected to also speak at the vigil but was unable to attend finally.

 

According to one EU agency, some 4.5 million Palestinians live in the Occupied Palestinian Territories of the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and Gaza. Amnesty International has said of the Israeli government, “Laws, policies, and institutional practices all work to expel, fragment, and dispossess Palestinians of their land and property, and deprive Palestinians of their human rights.” It concludes the treatment amounts to an institutionalized regime of oppression and domination defined as apartheid under international law.

As reported, hundreds of Bronx residents had joined various elected officials on Sunday, Oct. 8, for another vigil for Israel at Bell Tower Monument on West 239th Street in Fieldston, organized by Bronx Jewish clergy members, including Jewish Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81) who represents much of the northwest Bronx, where many Jewish communities live, District 11 City Council Member Eric Dinowitz, his son, who is also Jewish and who represents much of the same area, Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15), whose Bronx district stretches from the north to the south of the borough, and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson.

 

Also present were Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, Assembly Member George Alvarez (A.D. 78), who represents some or all of Belmont, Bedford Park, Fordham Manor, University Heights and Kingsbridge Heights, Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia (A.D. 86) who represents some or all of University Heights, Fordham Heights, Morris Heights, and Mt. Hope, and officials from the Office of Attorney General Letitia James.

 

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict dates back to the end of the 19th century. In 1947, the United Nations adopted Resolution 181, known as the Partition Plan, which sought to divide the British Mandate of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states. On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was created, sparking the first Arab Israeli War. The war ended in 1949 with Israel’s victory, but 750,000 Palestinians were displaced, and the territory was divided into 3 parts: the State of Israel, the West Bank (of the Jordan River), and the Gaza Strip.

 

According to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Hamas formed in late 1987 at the beginning of the first Palestinian intifada (uprising). DNI officials said its roots are in the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, and it is supported by a robust sociopolitical structure inside the Palestinian territories. They said the group’s charter calls for establishing an Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel and rejects all agreements made between the PLO and Israel. They said the strength of Hamas is concentrated in the Gaza Strip and areas of the West Bank.

They added that Hamas has a military wing known as the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades that has conducted many anti-Israel attacks in both Israel and the Palestinian territories since the 1990s. They said these attacks have included large-scale bombings against Israeli civilian targets, small-arms attacks, improvised roadside explosives, and rocket attacks.

 

DNI officials said the group in early 2006 won legislative elections in the Palestinian territories, ending the secular Fatah party’s hold on the Palestinian Authority, and challenging Fatah’s leadership of the Palestinian nationalist movement. They said Hamas continues to refuse to recognize or renounce violent resistance against Israel and in early 2008 conducted a suicide bombing, killing one civilian, as well as numerous rocket and mortar attacks that have injured civilians. The U.S. government has designated Hamas a foreign terrorist organization.

 

According to one EU agency, some 4.5 million Palestinians live in the Occupied Palestinian Territories of the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and Gaza. Amnesty International has said of the Israeli government, “Laws, policies, and institutional practices all work to expel, fragment, and dispossess Palestinians of their land and property, and deprive Palestinians of their human rights.” It concludes the treatment amounts to an institutionalized regime of oppression and domination defined as apartheid under international law.

 

Click here and here to read our previous stories covering reaction from various local clubs and elected officials to the initial Oct. 7 attacks, as well as some background context to the conflict. In the meantime, we have also covered reaction from Palestinians and their supporters to Israel’s response to the attacks. Further stories will follow.

 

CBS News reported on Oct. 18 that Palestinian officials say Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has killed about 3,000 people and wounded around 12,500 others, a majority of them women and children [since Oct. 7]. Meanwhile, in Israel, officials say Hamas’ terror attack and ongoing rocket attacks have killed some 1,400 people and wounded 3,500 others. The outlet reported that Hamas is said to be holding almost 200 hostages.

 

The Associated Press reported on Oct. 17 that the explosion at the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza left gruesome scenes. “Video that The Associated Press confirmed was from the hospital showed fire engulfing the building and the hospital grounds strewn with torn bodies, many of them young children,” according to the report. “The grass around them was strewn with blankets, school backpacks and other belongings.” According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), “Islamic Jihadists are responsible for the tragedy [on Oct. 17] – a hospital in Gaza was struck by a misfired rocket.”

For those wishing to donate to help humanitarian efforts in the region, Unicef is coordinating aid for those affected by the conflict.

 

For some more coverage on this topic, click here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, as well as a recent op-ed.

 

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story.