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A large population of people with Palestinian ties live in the
Chicago area, particularly in the suburb of Bridgeview. Muhammad
Sankari, a member of the Coalition for Justice for Palestine,
organized a rally Sunday outside the Israeli consulate in
Chicago.
“We
are here to say we want a stop to it. We don’t want the United
States to be supporting Israel anymore, and we want freedom and
liberation of the Palestinian people,” said Sankari.
Illinois U.S. Rep. Darren LaHood, R-Peoria, issued a statement
on X, formerly known as Twitter, and said the U.S. may need to
get involved.
“Israel has every right to defend itself from Hamas’ rocket
attacks. The United States must stand with Israel, one of our
closest and strongest allies, as they face these acts of
terror,” said LaHood.
The U.S. Palestinian Community Network of Chicago said in a
statement the attacks were in self-defense of ongoing Israeli
occupation and violence in the Gaza Strip.
“Palestinian political & resistance factions are responding
right now to decades of apartheid Israel’s brutality &
violations of Palestinian national & human rights,” the group
posted on social media.
Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, said he has been
in touch with constituents who have family in the region to get
them information on how to connect with the U.S. embassy in
Israel.
“The scale and viciousness of the Hamas terrorist attack is
reprehensible, and I support [President Joe Biden's] offer of
support to help Israel defend itself and free any hostages,”
said Durbin in a statement.
The attack came on the anniversary of the Yom Kippur War in
October 1973 between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led
by Egypt and Syria.
“On the Holy Sabbath, and on the 50th anniversary of the Yom
Kippur war, Hamas terrorists put on full display to the world
their disregard for human life and civilization,” said Illinois
Comptroller Susana Mendoza in a statement. “The State of
Illinois stands with the people of Israel and Israel itself.”
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