Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched through downtown Los Angeles on Saturday as part of a global day of action calling for an end to the war between Israel and Hamas.
Waving Palestinian flags and banners, protesters gathered in front of City Hall around 1 p.m. before beginning a slow march down Broadway chanting and carrying signs that read: “Stop the genocide,” “Free the two million hostages in Gaza” and “Cease fire now.” “
The crowd of peaceful protesters stretched across several city blocks. Some participants estimated that tens of thousands participated. The Los Angeles Police Department said it did not have an estimate of the number of attendees.
A participant in Saturday's pro-Palestinian march in downtown Los Angeles.
(Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times)
Similar demonstrations took place in large cities across the country, including San Francisco, Seattle, New York and Washington.
Israel launched its airstrikes and a ground invasion of Gaza after Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 240 hostages. Since then, the death toll in Gaza has exceeded 30,000, with the majority of victims being women and children. according to the World Health Organization.
Basically, Israel has endorsed a framework for a proposed Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, and it is now up to Hamas to accept it, a senior US administration official said on Saturday, a day before talks resumed. talks to reach an agreement in Egypt.
International mediators have been working for weeks to negotiate a pact to end the fighting before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins around March 10. A deal would also likely allow aid to reach hundreds of thousands of desperate Palestinians in northern Gaza who aid officials say are under threat of famine.
The Israelis “have more or less accepted” the proposal, which includes a six-week ceasefire and the release by Hamas of hostages considered vulnerable, including the sick, wounded, elderly and women, the US official said.
U.S. military planes began the first airdrops of thousands of meals to Gaza, and the armies of Jordan and Egypt said they also carried out airdrops. Aid groups say airdrops should be only a last resort and instead urge opening other crossings into Gaza and removing obstacles at the few that are open.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
A protester gestures after throwing baking flour on the steps of City Hall on Saturday.
(Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times)
