Little Rock (KATV) — An Arkansas group of Pro-Palestinian supporters gathered at the state capitol for a prayer vigil on Monday. This rally comes after more than 100 people were killed in Rafah.
Nearly 50 people came out to voice their compassion at the state capitol for those lives lost in Rafah.
Stephanie Gray, with the group Peace for Palestine, said they wanted to get media attention on how some Arkansans feel about this situation.
“That these are real life stakes even though we are not able to see them in Arkansas. There are real life material stakes that are at hand if we don’t do anything right now,” Gray said.
Gray said they have protested and rallied since last October. She said they will continue to take action until something is done.
“Every single second that we wait and we don’t call for an immediate cease fire, an innocent person in Gaza is killed,” she said.
The war in Gaza has become a huge topic of conversation between Dr. Hannah Warshowsky Samarsky and Esaa Mohammed Sabti Samarah Samarsky. Hannah is Jewish and Essa is Muslim. Hannah told KATV she identifies as an anti-Zionism Jewish person.
“Guiding principles that come from Judaism and similar ones of peace that come from Islam I think guide our principles,” Hannah said. “That’s why I’m not a Jew for Zionism, although I and many Jewish people are raised that way.”
Hannah said the couple’s focus is on preserving life. Essa said they both are especially concerned because their two-year-old daughter identifies with both cultures.
“Where are people going to put her is the question that’s always on our minds, in a topic that we frequently talk about around the dinner table because we’re terrified,” Essa said.
Hannah believes people try to use being antisemitic as a cover up injustice happening. She called it an injustice that Israel is doing on Palestinian lives.
According to Essa and Hannah, they describe themselves as Semitic people. They both are hoping for peace in a tragic situation.
“It doesn’t matter where it is, it doesn’t matter who it is, these are innocent lives being lost,” Essa said.
The founder of Peace for Palestine said they are having a cultural event on February 17.
