Demonstrations in support of Lebanon and opposing Israel's war erupt across US

In cities across the US this past week, Lebanese flags were added to the sea of Palestinian ones, as demonstrators gathered to show their support for the latest victim of Israeli indiscriminate attacks.

After nearly a year of continuous bombings on Gaza, in recent days Israel began a brazen military assault on Lebanon, two weeks ago shocking the world with coordinated exploding pagers targeting members of Hezbollah, while also killing many civilians, then exploding walking talkies, and in recent days and hours hitting residential buildings in the capital of Beirut. All these acts by Israel are considered violations of international humanitarian law, the Geneva Conventions, and other crucial rules in warfare, according to various local and international organisations. 

On Sunday afternoon in San Francisco, several hundred demonstrators gathered in front of the city's Federal Building, as activists gave speeches, people chanted and drew chalk art in support of Gaza and Lebanon.

"We gathered here today in front of the Federal Building because of Israel's escalation in Lebanon. And it's following up to about a year of genocide in Gaza. We are here to demand an arms embargo and to prevent this escalation into a full-out regional war," Laila Ali with the Palestinian Youth Movement told The New Arab.

"I think with this past year how Israel has been able to act with impunity without any sort of reprimand from the West, with a green light to keep going, they have decided to continue and expand their war, to expand their genocide, to expand their attacks against Arab people," she continued.

"They're using the same textbook they used in Gaza, saying there are missiles in civilian homes, saying everyone is a terrorist, to create as much destruction as possible to make it unliveable," she said.

Meanwhile, Dearborn in southeastern Michigan, with one of the highest concentrations of Arabs and Muslims in the US, has held multiple demonstrations in the last week in recognition of Israel's escalation in Lebanon.

In the country's political and economic capitals of Washington and New York, "emergency demonstrations" have been held, often with just hours' notice, as the situation in Lebanon continues to change daily.

Since 7 October, more than 42,000 Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank have been killed in Israeli attacks. In late September, more than 1,000 people in Lebanon have been killed by Israeli attacks. 

"For the past year, millions across the world have been demanding that Israel end its horrific genocidal war against the Palestinian people and that Western powers cut off all support to Israel. Instead, Israel has been rewarded with more military aid and unanimous support for political leaders of both parties." said Layan Fuleihan of the People's Forum, a New York-based movement incubator for working class and marginalised communities, in a public statement shortly before an emergency demonstration on Sunday.

"We won’t stand by while Biden and Harris continue to fund and expand this genocide. We will take to the streets and say NO to US-support for genocide in Gaza and Lebanon," he added. 

More gatherings are planned in the coming days, including musical events, to mark one year of Israel's genocide of Gaza.