Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters briefly closed the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.
Protesters blocked traffic while holding Palestinian flags and signs reading “Stop Genocide” and “End the Occupation Now!” and chanted “Eyes on Rafah!” according to video published on social networks, including by journalist Ben Camacho.
The protest came a day after what appeared to be one of the deadliest attacks in Israel's ongoing war against Hamas.
On Sunday, an Israeli attack on a tent camp housing displaced Palestinians in the southern Gaza city of Rafah killed dozens of people. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday described the attack as a “tragic mistake” that was under investigation.
Tens of thousands of people – many of them civilians – have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its war against Hamas following an attack by Hamas fighters in Israel in October. Large portions of Gaza have been destroyed and deprived of aid, sparking months of protests around the world and across the United States, including on many college campuses.
The United Nations' top court ordered Israel to stop its attack on Rafah last week.
A Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson said Monday that officers were called to monitor a protest downtown around 3 p.m.
“We responded to some protesters walking downtown,” said Los Angeles Police Officer Jeff Lee. “At first they started blocking traffic, but then they were on the sidewalk obeying traffic laws, and that's when they entered the freeway.”
California Highway Patrol Sgt. Alejandro Rubio said the LAPD alerted the CHP that about 50 protesters had moved to the freeway near Alameda Street at 4:48 p.m.
However, when CHP officers arrived at the scene around 5 p.m., there were no longer protesters on the freeway, Rubio said.
“Everyone was on the surface streets,” he said.
Lee said LAPD officers continued to monitor protesters downtown afterward.
“We're just going to ensure public safety and the well-being of all individuals,” he said.
