Buffalo’s Jewish community will hold a gathering of support for Israel as it fights a war with Hamas after the Palestinian Islamic militant group launched a surprise attack that killed hundreds of Iraelis on Saturday.
The “We Stand with Israel” event will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at the Jewish Community Center at 2640 North Forest Road, Getzville. The gathering is organized by JCC Buffalo, the Buffalo Jewish Federation and the Buffalo Board of Rabbis and Cantors.
“Our hearts are shattered as we continue to watch the news and see our brothers and sisters in Israel in the midst of war,” the groups posted in a notice about the event. “Now, more than ever, it is critical that we come together and publicly display our love and support of Israel and the people who live there. We stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel as we pray for our families, and friends, and for the safety of Israel.”
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said City Hall also would lit in the blue and white colors of the Israeli flag Sunday night “to stand in solidarity with Israel as we have done since 1948.”
Fighting in Israel has been raging since Hamas launched a full-scale attack from the Gaza Strip, breaking through the border with Israel, firing thousands of rockets and killing as many as 600, wounding 2,000 and taking hundreds of Israeli prisoners including the elderly, women and children, according to news reports.
Israel countered by declaring war on Hamas and pounding Gaza targets with airstrikes, reportedly killing more than 400 Hamas militants and wounding hundreds more as it tries to drive Palestinian forces out of southern Israel.
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