‘All Out for Gaza’: Thousands in S.F. rally for Palestinians

San Francisco Chronicle:

A large crowd marches during the “All Out for Gaza” rally, which began at Harry Bridges Plaza near the Embarcadero in San Francisco. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

A large crowd marched passionately Saturday in San Francisco to support Palestinians struggling to flee areas of the Gaza Strip targeted by the Israeli military as the Mideast conflict escalates.Holding placards that read “No more human suffering” and “This is not war. This is genocide,” a throng gathered at Justin Herman Plaza and marched up Market Street during the “All Out for Gaza” rally, which was organized by several Bay Area organizations supporting Palestinian rights.

The march, which drew thousands, closed Mission and Fourth streets before heading back to the Embarcadero.

Palestinians are grappling with a growing shortage of water, electricity and medical supplies ahead of the Israeli military’s expected ground offensive in response to a deadly surprise attack by Hamas militants last weekend.

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An estimated 700,000 Palestinian Arabs — about half of prewar Palestine’s Arab population — fled from their homes or were expelled by militias during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

“We are standing in unequivocal solidarity with Palestinians demanding an immediate end to the genocide that is occurring against Palestinians,” said Ariel Koren, an organizer with Jewish Voice for Peace.

“Our elected officials are funding this genocide,” Koren said. “As we speak, the United States government provides $4 billion in military aid to Israel every single year. … We are also calling on officials to stop making us all in this country complicit.”

Suzanne Ali, an organizer for the Palestinian Youth Movement, a transnational group of Palestinian and Arab youth, said: “We want to call attention to the fact that it is unconscionable for the U.S. to fund the massacres and genocides of Palestinian people. The root of violence is the occupation. We want all people to live freely.”