A protest rally in support of Palestinians has been announced for Tuesday evening in Covington.
Covington for Ceasefire announced the May 7 protest earlier the same day, saying six different student- and community-based groups will rally at the corner of West Pike Street and 7th Street in Covington starting at 6:30 p.m.
The protest is in condemnation of the Israel's recent ground assault in Rafah.
According to the Associated Press, Israeli troops seized control of Gaza’s Rafah border crossing on May 7. CNN is reporting that the U.S. State Department has described Israel's seizure of the crossing as a possible "prelude" to a major military operation. The move comes as reports of a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has stalled, with Israel's government saying Hamas failed to meet its requirements. Israel has reportedly sent a delegation to Cairo where negotiations continue, but Egypt has also condemned Israeli's move into Rafah as "a dangerous escalation," according to NPR.
Organizations planning on turning out for the protest include Covington for Ceasefire, Cincinnati Socialists, Cincinnati Community Aid and Praxis, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, NKU Students for Justice in Palestine and Coalition for Community and Safety.
The protest is in condemnation of the Israel's recent ground assault in Rafah.
According to the Associated Press, Israeli troops seized control of Gaza’s Rafah border crossing on May 7. CNN is reporting that the U.S. State Department has described Israel's seizure of the crossing as a possible "prelude" to a major military operation. The move comes as reports of a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has stalled, with Israel's government saying Hamas failed to meet its requirements. Israel has reportedly sent a delegation to Cairo where negotiations continue, but Egypt has also condemned Israeli's move into Rafah as "a dangerous escalation," according to NPR.
"Rafah, the last 'safe place' for over one million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, is currently being indiscriminately bombed by [Israel] in advance of their imminent ground invasion and the final phase of the genocide," reads an email from organizers announcing the protest in Covington. "This puts civilians directly in harm's way with nowhere else to go. We demand an immediate halt of U.S. weapons shipments to Israel and Israel's acceptance of the ceasefire agreement already agreed to by both the U.S. and Hamas."
Organizations planning on turning out for the protest include Covington for Ceasefire, Cincinnati Socialists, Cincinnati Community Aid and Praxis, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, NKU Students for Justice in Palestine and Coalition for Community and Safety.
The protest comes as students and community members across the country have ramped up demonstration efforts to draw attention to the ongoing deadly violence in the Middle East since the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel by Hamas militants that left upwards of 1,200 Israelis dead. Since the attack, Israel's counteroffensive measures have killed more than 34,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. It's unclear just how many of the 250 Israeli hostages remain alive in Gaza.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters on Tuesday that Israel's invasion of Rafah would be “a strategic mistake, a political calamity and a humanitarian nightmare."
Guterres demanded that Israel reopen two key land crossings so aid workers can deliver food and other supplies to Palestinians in Gaza.
