Pro-Palestinian rally draws hundreds to Parsippany to demand ceasefire in Gaza

PARSIPPANY — As the Israel-Hamas war and a growing humanitarian crisis escalates in Gaza, about 500 mostly Muslim demonstrators gathered in a park here Thursday to pray for peace and rally in demand of a ceasefire.

The event in Morris County's largest town took place on the football field along Route 46 in Smith Field Park and drew a heavy police presence from Parsippany and the county Sheriff's Department. But no conflicts or counter-protesters were observed.

Billed as an interfaith gathering with support from several groups, including the Islamic Center of Morris County, the vast majority of the speakers and attendees appeared to be Muslim. Hundreds participated in prayers, with the crowd separated by gender.

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Some said they came out of fear for the Palestinians trapped in Gaza with no food, water or power amid an Israeli blockade. Some spoke out against major media outlets they say favor Israel.

While most of the speeches and prayers emphasized the need for peace, anger at Israel and its political allies, including the United States, was also evident.

The Palestinian death toll in Gaza is more than 7,300, with 60% of them minors and women, according to the territory’s Health Ministry. The blockade on Gaza has meant dwindling supplies, and the U.N. warned that its aid operation helping hundreds of thousands of people was “crumbling” amid near-depleted fuel.

More than 1,400 people were slain in Israel during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, according to the Israeli government. At least 229 hostages were taken into Gaza by Hamas, which has been labeled a terrorist organization by the United States. Palestinian militants also have fired thousands of rockets into Israel, including one that hit a residential building in Tel Aviv on Friday, wounding four people.

Grassroots gathering

Heather Anen of Denville described the Parsippany event as a grassroots gathering organized by a group of young people who came together to pray and rally for peace.

"It's very difficult to watch, how the media covers what's going on," said Anen, a converted Muslim who grew up in Boonton. "It's not a war. We mourn civilian lives lost everywhere. But when you have one of the most technologically advanced countries and militaries of the world bombing a civilian population, there's no parity."

For others, their connection to the crisis hit closer to home. Speaking through an interpreter, Nora Al Hyek said members of her family are trapped in Gaza, where they can't get updates on the war.

"A week after the first attack, I heard from my brother there, who asked me what was going on in Gaza," said Hyek, who has homes in East Hanover and Gaza. "They have no power and no internet so they have no way of knowing what is going on. They only hear the rockets."

She said her family in Gaza is taking in neighbors to stay at their one-story home "instead of going to a building full of floors that could collapse on them."

Her brother asked her to send money, but "there's no way to get it to him," she added.

Lara Suwann, a Montville resident of Palestinian descent, said she also has family in Gaza.

"Here we are in 2023, we are fighting for animal rights, women's rights, all these things we fight for, while the whole world is watching, and we can't even cry for human rights, these babies, these innocent people," she said. "It's very sad. We feel bad for both sides. We feel for all the innocent people."

Imam Wesley LeBron of Sussex County delivered prayers and urged the audience to seek repentance and forgiveness from Allah, and rejoice in what they have been given.

"Many may ask Imam, what should we be grateful for when our brothers and sisters are dying in Palestine?" LeBron said. "I say to you, be grateful that Allah is using you today as an instrument to awaken the world to the 75 years of tyranny and oppression that our Palestinian brothers and sisters have been facing, that this genocide that has taken full force in the last 20 days is something that will no longer be hidden."

More: Tenafly family joins relatives of other Hamas hostages at UN in plea to 'bring them home'

Peaceful in Parsippany

Lisa Hassan of Ridgefield attended what she described as a less peaceful protest on Tuesday in Englewood, where she said police intimidated Muslims. The week before, hundreds of Israel and Palestinian supporters gathered at a similarly tense demonstration in Teaneck.

Hassan was more complementary toward the Parsippany police.

"Parsippany is treating us as human beings, where Englewood and Teaneck are not," she said. "They don't recognize Palestinians as people.... This is not a Zionist state, this is America".

Two women from Montclair, representing the Northern New Jersey Jewish Voice For Peace, also attended in support.

Jewish Voice for Peace bills itself as the largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization in the world , dedicated to establishing a "just society" where Palestinians and Jewish Israelis coexist peacefully.

This article includes material from the Associated Press.

William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com Twitter: @wwesthoven

This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Pro-Palestinian rally in Parsippany demands Gaza ceasefire