SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — From Oakland to San Jose, pro-Palestinian protests broke out across the Bay Area Saturday with an Israel-Hamas ceasefire in the balance.
“It’s time to meet the moment where we’re sick of this as Americans, as humans. And we just need to do our part,” said Florence Anderson who was protesting outside San Jose City Hall.
“If there is truly a ceasefire, that would be fantastic,” said Wendy Greenfield. “I still have my doubts that that will actually come to pass, and I do think that we need to keep putting the pressure on.”
MORE: Trump orders Israel to stop bombing Gaza after Hamas partially accepts his peace plan
President Donald Trump is urging Israel and Hamas to move forward with the Gaza ceasefire plan which includes releasing the hostages.
“We’re not celebrating, yet. But this has seemed to have gone further than previous attempts,” said Tyler Gregory, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council. “I think what’s encouraging is many of the Arab and Muslim states in the region have accepted this proposal, conditionally. The Israeli government has accepted it. And Hamas is entertaining it.”
MORE: Israel will advance 1st phase of US plan to end Gaza war, hopes to announce release of hostages soon
Meanwhile, there are ceremonies planned throughout the Bay Area in coming days as two years since the October Hamas attack nears.
“We hope that this is going to be the last memorial or bring back hostages that we have to do on October 7,” said Ronit Jacobs, a senior director at The Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto, where they are hosting a ceremony Sunday evening.
“Because the war is still going on, it’s not really just a memorial. It’s remembering the dead and being hopeful that the hostages will be released the war will be over and we can move on with our lives.”
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