By Moira Warburton and Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Democratic U.S. Consultant Brad Schneider’s workplace was focused by what he known as on Friday “a vile act of hate,” after pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated exterior his workplace within the U.S. Capitol constructing and tore down posters of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
Schneider, a staunch supporter of Israel, posted a photograph of the posters crumpled on the ground.
“This was a shameful act on any day, but especially on July 4, our country’s Independence Day,” Schneider mentioned on social media. Schneider, who’s Jewish, represents a district overlaying the suburbs north of Chicago, Illinois.
Instagram web page “Direct Actions for Palestine” mentioned protesters demanded the lawmaker help restoring U.S. funding for the U.N. company for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and ending the conflict. Washington suspended funding to UNRWA after Israel alleged that members of the UNRWA workers had ties to extremist teams, a declare the U.N. mentioned Israel has but to supply proof for.
An Oct. 7 assault on Israel by Palestinian Hamas militants killed 1,200 folks, whereas about 250 different folks have been kidnapped to Hamas-governed Gaza as hostages, in response to Israeli tallies.
Israel’s subsequent assault on Gaza has killed over 38,000, in response to the native well being ministry, flattened a lot of the enclave and precipitated widespread starvation.
The U.S. Capitol Police mentioned in a press release that it was “aware and investigating” the incident associated to the U.S. lawmaker’s workplace however may present no additional particulars.
Schneider additionally mentioned his house was focused final weekend, with “approximately 50 masked demonstrators banging drums, blowing horns and screaming antisemitic chants” at 2:30 a.m.
Protesters have been criticizing Schneider’s votes to defund UNRWA, in response to the “Direct Actions for Palestine” Instagram web page. A clip confirmed them as saying: “If we don’t get no justice, then you don’t get no sleep.”
The battle has additionally led to protests round the US, Israel’s most necessary ally, over U.S. help for Israel. Rights advocates have famous an increase in antisemitism and Islamophobia.