NORFOLK, Va. — It's been several days since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war after Hamas militants attacked Israel last weekend.
As the Israeli military retaliates, Palestinians along Gaza Strip are feeling the force. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over the past several days, airstrikes from Israel have killed almost 1,600 Palestinians, including 500 children.
Now, a "Rally for Peace" in Norfolk this weekend aims to spread awareness on how Palestinians are also affected by the war.
Meredith Lincoln is the organizer for the rally on Saturday. She hopes the event will help educate people about the violence that's happening to Palestinians.
“We don’t condone any violence at all, we don’t support Hamas, we’re in support of Palestinian civilians who are in Gaza who are currently being bombed," Lincoln said.
The Rally for Peace will take place on the corner of St. Paul's Boulevard and City Hall Avenue, hoping to bring awareness of the war's impact on Palestinians.
“I’m just a resident of Virginia Beach who cares about Human rights, human dignity, the Palestinian people," Lincoln said. "There are innocent civilians that’s being killed on both sides.”
Nancy Wein is the co-chair for the Virginia Coalition of Human Rights. It's a group based in Richmond that advocates for Palestinian rights.
“Israel has the iron dome. They have and underground and all that. They have nothing if a bomb hits you in Gaza, you’re dead," Wein said "And a lot of the bombs that hit. They hit these high-rises, and entire families are wiped out.”
Wein hopes people will attend rallies across the Commonwealth for Palestinians. She said she plans to attend a rally in Richmond on Sunday. It's supposed to be a peaceful demonstration, but she said she's nervous because of her differing point of view.
“We have to fight back with words and with knowledge and with history and with understanding," Wein said.
Norfolk's Rally for Peace Event is happening from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. Anybody is welcome to join.