Israel–Hamas war protests in the United States
Protests, including rallies, demonstrations, campaigns, and vigils, relating to the Israel–Hamas war have occurred nationwide across the United States since the conflict's start on 7 October 2023, occurring as part of a broader phenomenon of the Israel–Hamas war protests around the world.
Israel–Hamas war protests in the United States | |
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Part of Israel–Hamas war protests | |
Date | October 2023 | – ongoing
Location | United States |
Caused by | Israel–Hamas war |
Goals | Varied |
Methods | Protests, demonstrations, civil disobedience, online activism |
Casualties | |
Death(s) | At least 1 |
In the first ten days of the war, pro-Israeli demonstrations in support of Israel in the wake of the Hamas-led attack and focusing on the Israeli hostage crisis were most common, but they have since been outnumbered by pro-Palestinian anti-war protests demanding a ceasefire and an end to the Israeli occupation. Pro-Palestinian protestors criticized US military and diplomatic support to Israel and Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip and its war conduct, which some called a genocide. These protests included Jewish groups and some US administration staffers. By December 5, more than 1 million Americans had participated in protest over the conflict, across over 2,600 events: 442 in support of Israel, and 2,100 in support of Palestine.
Students in the United States reported fears of losing future job opportunities for engaging in protests against military action in Gaza. The ACLU published an open letter urging colleges not to initiate "baseless investigations" into pro-Palestinian student groups. Civil rights groups American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and Palestine Legal described the response to criticism of Israel in the United States as "McCarthyite".
Two people have self-immolated in protest of the war: an unidentified woman draped in a Palestinian flag on 1 December 2023 in Atlanta, and Aaron Bushnell, a 25-year-old serviceman of the United States Air Force, in Washington, D.C on 25 February 2024.