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Palestinian-American Protest Middle East Violence
At least 17 more Palestinians were killed after an Israeli rocket hit a school in Gaza on Wednesday. As dozens more die every day, several took to the streets of Lincoln to protest against the violence in the Middle East.
“Each Palestinian needs to have the same rights as the Jewish people have,” Maysoon Iddmeiri said. “They’re human and they’re human.”
The Iddmeiri family is from Palestine and moved to Lincoln more than three decades ago.
“Most of Gaza is in an open jail,” Nadia Iddmeiri said. “Just imagine, living in one spot, staying in one spot for ten years.”
Nadia and Maysoon were among more than two dozen who gathered on the corner of 16th and O streets to show their support for Palestine.
Nadia Iddmeiri says she’s losing her second home in Gaza due to fires from the current conflict. She’s hoping the U.S. government will soon change its policy.
“I feel we fund so many [attacks] on the outside world, especially on Palestine,” she said. “Our tax money is going to killing people.”
On the south side of O Street, Derek Boumstein wore an Israeli Defense shirt and stood as the only pro-Israeli protester.
“I want peace, but I think the only resolution is to remove Hamas from Gaza,” he said.
Boumstein supports a two state peace agreement, but not at the sacrifice of safety.
“[Israel] can’t stand by and let these obvious security threats exist. I want a peaceful solution, everyone does, but not at the expense of security,” he said.
With neither position seeing an end in sight, most protesters held the same fear – that the most likely reality is more dead on each side.