MIAMI (WSVN) - Tempers flared and points of view were shared as hundreds of people came together in downtown Miami to stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza as war rages on in the Middle East.
7News cameras showed demonstrators as they waved Palestine flags and held up signs in front of the Torch of Friendship on Biscayne Boulevard, just after 5 p.m., Friday.
About an hour later, the number of protesters had increased into the hundreds.
Participants in the rally said they are very concerned about the people of Gaza City and Israel Defense Forces’ response to Hamas’ surprise attack last weekend.
“Just simply to deliver the voice, to speak up for the people that are standing for Palestine, that are suffering,” said a protester.
“Hamas is an organized militia. They want the resistance for their people,” said another protester.
City of Miami Police cordoned off the sidewalk in front of the Torch of Friendship, and officers were seen lined up facing the protesters in an effort to make sure no one crossed into the street.
Across Biscayne Boulevard, a small group of pro-Israel counterprotesters were seen standing near officers as they faced the larger crowd. The sidewalk on their side was also cordoned off.
“Kill Hamas,” said one of the counterprotesters.
When asked about innocent civilians in Palestine who are caught up in the turmoil, this counterprotester replied, “Well, I want to tell you, all those people in Gaza have voted for Hamas. They voted them in.”
Protesters in the pro-Palestine side weighed in on Hamas’ surprise attack.
“We’re talking about two million-plus people i Gaza, in whole blockades recently, because of recent events,” said a protester.
When asked what Hamas’ actions represent to him, the protester replied, “It’s a people’s scream for freedom.”
“The bombings in Gaza, the cities that are being leveled, if you want to fight, it doesn’t require leveling cities, it doesn’t require bombing entire cities,” said protester Mohammed Naeem.
When Naeem was asked whether he could sympathize with Israeli children being killed and taken away from their families, he said, “When it comes to children, I don’t care what color they are, I don’t care what ethnicity they are, their age doesn’t even matter to me. Children are children, just like humans are human.”
Though peaceful from beginning to end, cameras captured some inflammatory behavior, including a pro-Palestine protester tying an Israeli flag to his shoe and dragging it across the ground.
A man who crossed the line and tried to run across the street toward the counterprotesters. He was intercepted and detained by police.
The brother of the man who was taken away said the emotions just got away with his sibling.
Most protesters were orderly and non-threatening.
Among them were several demonstrators from the activist organization Jewish Voice for Peace.
“It’s a natural human thing to want blood revenge, but it is also an important ethical imperative to not visit destruction on people out of revenge,” said Martha Schoolman with Jewish Voice for Peace.
“We aren’t protesting just because we’re Arab or Muslim; we’re protesting because we’re human, we’re protesting for peace,” said Naeem.
The rally was over by sundown. It’s unclear whether or not the man detained by police was arrested.
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