The taking of women, girls, boys and babies hostage, as well as the large number of deaths left by the conflict between Israel and the extremist group Hamas, has become a worrying issue for society, given the possibility of increase acts of hate and discrimination towards Israeli and Palestinian communities in the US.
On Saturday, October 7, 2023, an attack on Israel by the Hamas group from the Gaza Strip was recorded. In response to this act, the Israeli government formally declared war, authorizing "significant military actions" against the Palestinian paramilitary group.
According to experts, more Israelis were killed during this initial Hamas assault than on any other day in Israel's history, including all of its wars.
The destruction increases every day, and there are few places to shelter and keep civil society safe; All of this has put the American community very tense, while acts of hatred and bigotry against Jews and Muslims have reached record levels in recent years, This was stated by experts during a press conference held by Ethnic Media Services.
This conflict has generated a risk situation for Muslims and Jews, which is why we seek to protect them from any hate attacks, considering that they are not to blame for events outside the country where they now live.
Jamal Dajani, the journalist explained that this conflict can expand regionally and involve more countries as it has a very devastating potential, in addition to the fact that it is not a conflict of today, since it has been going on for the last 75 years, where the Palestinians have not made no progress in the negotiations.
?We know that white supremacists exist and that is my fear, that now they will take advantage of any international event to foment their hatred.?, he commented.
For Brian Levin, professor emeritus of Criminal Justice at the University of California, it is also worrying how American society is taking the issue. Statistically, the majority of hate crimes and anti-Semitic attacks are perpetrated by white supremacists.
The professor explained that this is not an ethnic or religious conflict, but rather a territorial one.
"Some people have said that this is because of religion, but if we analyze it, this is not the case. Historically, it is known that Jews, Muslims and Christians existed in the Holy Land for many years, so it goes further," he said.
According to a report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), there is an increase in hate crimes against Muslims in the United States, so it is very important to maintain rhetoric in support of those who profess that religion, with speeches of peace, the professor highlighted.
Brian Levin's research reveals that hate crimes against Muslims in large cities increased 45 percent in 2021, while nationally, the increase was 38 percent.
?We are working together to bring peace, not only the Israelis and Palestinians, but our Muslim sisters and brothers, and our Jewish and Arab brothers; We want them to not feel those types of consequences in California?, said Levin when referring to the attacks of hate or discrimination carried out against these communities.
Estee Chandler, an organizer with the Los Angeles chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, said Palestinians have experienced blockades for more than 60 years.
However, he said, recently, 2.3 million people in the northern part of Gaza were asked to leave their homes as Israel threatened to bomb the area, so residents have had less than 24 hours to leave their homes. .
?At this moment we are very afraid to see that half of the people of Gaza are expelled from their homes, if they do not do so they will die, this can only be called genocide?, he pointed out.
For Chandler, the conflict has already had repercussions, and is reflected in some parts of the United States. An example of this, he said, is that there are already movements and repression in some universities in the American union.
?There is a lot of misinformation, so activists and students now feel insecure. I am someone who has already been sent threats?, He emphasized while highlighting the importance of the media giving visibility to reporters and activists to be able to explain what is happening from the facts.
Fatin Jarara is a Palestinian community organizer based in New York, who shared that she has seen cars passing by with screens showing photos of Israeli children with a caption that says: "this person has been kidnapped."
Given this fact, he said that people say that they have never seen such brutality, however for Fatin Jarara it is abnormal that this happens in Palestine, where images of women, girls, boys and babies are shown in very deplorable conditions, so? It is not necessary to see the image of decapitated babies to turn to see society and this country, when it is something that has existed?
He explained that many people in other countries are afraid to leave, thinking that they will be judged or hurt because of this conflict.
"People fear being victims of some hate attack when they are not responsible for the current conflict," he stressed.
«What I want is to see that my people, my people, have a dignified and free life. It's really not my fault that my oppressor is a Jew, that's why I would like people to understand a little more, and I don't say anything against Jewish people, because I know that there are also those who support my fight.", he claimed.
The experts agreed that misinformation is leading society to judge and make hasty decisions, even to hurt or offend Jews, Palestinians, and/or Muslims as a result of their countries of origin, so they called on society to stay more informed and avoid falling into hateful actions against citizens.
This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, ayou administeredred by the CaliFornia State Library.
You may be interested in: Murder of 6-year-old boy by anti-Muslim landlord in Chicago convicted
