Counterprotest will tell ‘Stand With Israel’ rally: “Stop excusing Israeli atrocities.”

Coalition for Justice in Palestine

Organizers put thousands on Chicago streets Sunday to oppose Israeli bombardment of Gaza — and are mobilizing Tuesday counter-protest as outrage grows over Israeli execution video.

Israel Counterprotest will be held Tuesday, July 22 at Noon, at the Israeli Consulate, 500 W. Madison St., Chicago.

In an effort to salvage Israel’s plummeting international reputation in the wake of growing evidence of war crimes against Gaza civilians, the right-wing Zionist group Stand With Us is rallying to support the Israeli government at noon on Tuesday, July 22at Chicago’s Israeli consulate at 500 W. Madison. Protesters will be there to oppose that rally — and put the lie to Israeli spin that claims it has the “most compassionate army in the world.” The group put thousands on Chicago’s streets Sunday to oppose Israel’s increasingly lethal assault on the people of Gaza, and its Facebook page for today’s counterprotest had drawn almost 1,000 participants by Tuesday night.

Israeli military forces have now rocketed three hospitals in Gaza, flattening one and severely damaging another Tuesday, killing five and injuring another 50, including one health worker whose hand was blown off. Israel has also targeted schools, water treatment facilities and other civilian infrastructure, killing close to 600 — overwhelmingly civilians, including more than 150 children — and injuring at least 3,600 more in two weeks of constant attack. The death toll has more than doubled since Israel began its ground invasion last Thursday, flattening densely populated neighborhoods with a constant barrage of shells and bombs. Rescue workers fear many dozens more dead lie among the rubble.

Yesterday, video surfaced of an Israeli sniper shooting and wounding a civilian looking for injured relatives — then pumping another two bullets into the injured man as he cried for help, killing him, while medical and rescue workers looked on helplessly. Israel also shelled the ambulance in the video, killing paramedic Faud Jaber and news cameraman Khaled Hammad. The video, which has gone viral, has sparked a growing wave of outrage.

Gaza’s Red Crescent Society says Israel is deliberately targeting medical facilities, 77% of which have sustained damage and all of which face critical shortages of medicines and supplies as the need for their services has surged.

The reality on the ground puts the lie to Israeli spin and distortions, say protesters, who argue that Israel’s systemic abuse of Palestinians under occupation and its ruthless assault on blockaded Gaza civilians tears at Israel’s claim to victim status. They’ve vowed to meet Israeli apologists at every opportunity. “We won’t allow warmongers to gather unopposed in our city, and we are asking everyone to come out and protest with us,” says coalition member Nesreen Hasan.

Tuesday’s counter protest is being convened by the Coalition for Justice in Palestine, whose members include American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), Chicago Islamic Center, Islamic Community Center of Illinois, Mosque Foundation, Palestinian American Community Center, Palestinian American Council, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)-Chicago, and United States Palestinian Community Network (USPCN). The action is being supported by the ANSWER Coalition, the Anti-War Committee-Chicago, the Arab Jewish Partnership for Peace and Justice in the Middle East, Jews for Justice in Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, and the Palestine Solidarity Group.

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/637353736372609/

Press Contacts: Hatem Abudayyeh, 773-301-4108, hatem@aaan.org; Kristin Szremski, 708-717-4180, kristin@ampalestine.org, media@ampalestine.org