'We support the people of Gaza': Pro-Israel House resolution spurs rally at Arizona Capitol
About 50 people gathered at the Arizona State Capitol, before the state's House of Representatives unanimously adopted a resolution on Monday that condemned Hamas and supported Israel and its right to defend itself. Some held signs and chanted in support of Palestinian freedom, while others clashed on the anticipated direction of the war.
The resolution passed without objection and was structured in such a way that no individual votes were recorded.
Protesters against the resolution sought to make their voices heard on the opening day of the 2024 legislative session. They were joined by pro-Palestinian groups gathering at capitol buildings across the U.S. to call for an end to the Israeli shelling of Gaza, where the Gaza Health Ministry reports some 20,000 Palestinians have died and more than 50,000 have been wounded in the conflict.
Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organization by the United States, killed about 1,200 Israelis on Oct. 7 in a surprise attack. As of Dec. 1, Israel reported that about 1,300 Israelis have been killed since then.
At the capitol building in Phoenix, the Palestinian American Community Center joined its supporters, including representatives from the Navajo Nation, Tucson-based Jewish Voice For Peace, and activist group Socialist Revolution, all of whom called for the immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
PACC president Mohammed Riyad said the protesters gathered were "making sure that this cause, and any cause, will not be silenced by opportunistic politicians looking to score political points on a matter that is actually life and death."
A group of four speakers stood with Riyad, rows of supporters behind them holding Palestinian flags in front of a crowd that grew to about 50 people over the span of the demonstration.
Bishara Bahbah, the first of five speakers at the rally, told The Arizona Republic that the state had no place encouraging the war in Gaza.
"I want to see Arizona legislature call for a ceasefire," said Bahbah, an orthodox Christian who was born in Jerusalem.
"The United States has the power to... pressure Israel into stopping the ongoing genocide in the world. It is totally unacceptable, and to say that Israel is a strategic ally is a lie," Bahbah told the crowd.
The next speaker was Muna Hijazi, volunteer of the Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance who shared her gratitude in person on Monday to the Democratic Arizona House representatives who signed a ceasefire bill in early November.
Hijazi and other supporters were at the opening day of the state legislature at 8 a.m. to begin the first session of 2024, signaling what she said in her speech would be the start of regular involvement from the APSA.
Two supporters carried a large flag that read "O'Odham stand with Palestine" in spray-painted letters.
Nicholas Brancaccio of Socialist Revolution spoke to the crowd and said he stood in solidarity with the Palestinian and Muslim community in Arizona to call for a ceasefire and oppose the new House resolution.
Another speaker was Ken Kenegos, a spokesperson for Jewish Voice For Peace of Tucson, who said that foundational beliefs in Judaism claim all men are made in the image of God — reason enough that "Israel's right to defend itself has nothing to do with all this destruction (in Gaza)."
"We support the people of Gaza and call for Palestinian self-determination. We join the call for an immediate ceasefire and a diplomatic process for a permanent and just peace," Kenegos said.
Crowd chatter began to escalate when one person interrupted speakers with questions about the Israeli hostages still in Gaza.
Cross-talk and arguing between the speakers and members of the crowd came to a gradual halt when the supporters holding the O'Odham flag said, "We're stuck over here on the reservation, so anybody who's not Indigenous needs to be quiet just a moment."
The final speaker was Lexsiri Coronado, who said, "There are 22 lines written in this resolution and not one condemns the genocide happening in Palestine. There are 60 Representative seats in the Arizona Legislature and not one has come out to condemn the genocide and displacement of Palestinians."
On Nov. 7, however, a group of 16 Arizona lawmakers signed a letter to President Joe Biden urging a ceasefire and characterizing Israel's military actions as violations of the Geneva Conventions. The letter stated there is "no justification" for indiscriminate bombing of or near civilian neighborhoods and hospitals.
Coronado led the group into a chant of "free, free Palestine," that echoed through the Capitol grounds.
The supporters took to the outside entrance of the House of Representatives building to chant with full force just before the 2024 State of the State was expected to begin.
The protesters shouted "shame" on President Biden, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs. They also declared "from Phoenix to Palestine," alongside the "from the river to the sea" chant, which was deemed an antisemitic slogan by the Anti-Defamation League.
Part of the resolution included:
Elimination of Hamas
Members of the Legislature conveyed their most heartfelt condolences to all Israeli victims as well as their families and communities.
Members of the Legislature support Arizona's law enforcement community in its efforts to remain vigilant in protecting Israeli Americans, Jewish Americans and all supporters of Israel from acts of crime and unlawful discrimination that tend to manifest in times of turmoil.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Legislature's opening day met with rally against pro-Israel resolution
