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Hundreds Gather In Tampa To Protest Gaza Airstrikes

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By RAY REYES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 30, 2008

Updated: 12/30/2008 09:12 pm

TAMPA - The thought of his six young nieces keeps Yusuf Dabus awake.

The girls, ages 3-7, lived in the Gaza strip and were seeking shelter near a mosque over the weekend as Israeli planes dropped bombs on Hamas targets. But his nieces died in the bombing run, Dabus said, casualties in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, elected government of the Palestinian people.

"Basically that whole street was taken out," Dabus of Tampa said. "My aunt's house and all. How can I sleep knowing my family will not be alright tomorrow?"

Dabus' story and news reports inspired University of South Florida sophomore Jehad Saleh, 19, to speak out. So he started a group on social networking site Facebook two days ago.

He encouraged local Palestinians and Palestinian-Americans to gather at West Spruce Street and North Dale Mabry Highway on Tuesday to protest the violence in the Gaza Strip. Saleh's call was then relayed through text messages and word-of-mouth.

By 4 p.m., at least 400 demonstrators had lined up along the busy thoroughfare, waving Palestinian and American flags, holding homemade signs and chanting through megaphones.

"More people responded than I invited," Saleh said. "I've had cousins in the Gaza Strip who died. If their voice can't be heard, mine will."

Demonstrators chanted "Free, free Palestine" and "Stop the killing." Signs encouraged passing motorists to "Honk 4 Peace."

Mike Prysner of civil rights group the ANSWER Coalition, said Tuesday's demonstration was part of a "national day of protest" about the situation in Gaza.

Although generally a peaceful, if intense, protest, tensions flared when Benyamin Berke walked through the crowd draped in an Israeli flag.

"I wouldn't call it provoking unless being Jewish in this area is a provocation," Berke said. "I wanted to let the people of Tampa know that there's people who support Israel."

Jack Ross, speaking in coordination with the Israel consulate general to Miami and Puerto Rico, said Tuesday that the Israel government is protecting its people from Hamas rocket strikes.

"This is not an action against the Palestinian people," Ross said. "Israel is doing everything it can to limit civilian casualties. Hamas is doing everything they can to raise civilian casualties. If Hamas is quiet, Israel is quiet."

Tuesday marked the fourth day of Israeli airstrikes against the Hamas leadership. More than 370 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed over the weekend. On Tuesday, Hamas rockets killed four Israelis.

"I'm angry about this war," said protester Marwan Asadi, 39, a Palestinian who is also an Israeli citizen. "I want us to be able to sit down and solve our problems."

News Channel 8 reporter Samara Sodos and information from the Associated Press contributed to this report. Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 259-7920.

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