Bay Area Residents Protest Bombing of Lebanon at San Francisco Federal Building, Block Road
September 24th, 20224
Christopher Alam | Al Enteshar Al arabi Newspaper
On the evening of September 24, 2024, Bay Area residents converged at the San Francisco Federal Building to voice their opposition to the U.S. involvement in the Israeli bombings of Lebanon and the ongoing siege of Gaza. They demanded an immediate ceasefire to forestall a broader regional war.
As early as 6 PM, the crowd filled the walkway and soon spilled onto 7th Street, blocking the entire stretch between the Federal Building and the Courthouse. A truck equipped with large screens displayed poignant images of Lebanon while broadcasting the melancholic strains of Fairouz’s ballad “Le Beirut.” Participants, waving Lebanese and Palestinian flags and sporting kaffiyehs, brandished signs that declared “Hands Off Lebanon.”
Basma, a Lebanese citizen, captured the crowd’s sentiments, expressing the profound frustrations of her community. “We have an anger that burns hotter with every drop of blood our people shed. We are gathering here today because for weeks the Zionist entity continues to inch towards expanding its genocide on the brave people of Lebanon. They do this because the Lebanese people have stood firmly and unwaveringly by the side of the Palestinians…”
The recent escalation in Lebanon has been severe. On Monday, a widespread bombing raid primarily targeting South Lebanon resulted in over 500 fatalities—the most lethal attack since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War. The previous week saw an Israeli airstrike on the densely populated Beirut suburb of Dahye, which claimed 45 lives. Additionally, a series of explosions triggered by pagers and walkie-talkies killed 39 people and injured thousands.
Wassim Hage from the Arab Resource and Outreach Center, who has family roots in South Lebanon, spoke about the resilience of his family and community. “My family there is well acquainted with Israeli bombing campaigns through the decades. They’re resilient, they’re steadfast in the face of this adversity… I was just in Lebanon with my family last summer, and I know that now they’re hearing sonic booms and jets, but I know they’re stronger than the forces coming to threaten them. Our people from the diaspora here in the Bay Area all the way to Palestine have our heads raised high.”
A crowd of demonstrators stand in the road outside the San Francisco Federal Building, 24 September, 2024 (Christopher Alam | Al Enteshar Newspaper)
The Israeli military asserts that its operations are focused solely on Hezbollah targets, alleging that civilian structures are being used to store military assets. This rhetoric is reminiscent of past justifications used during bombings in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged civilians in southern Lebanon to relocate north, assuring them of their eventual safe return. Preparations for a possible ground invasion are reportedly underway.
Rami, an organizer with the Palestinian Youth Movement, shared his frustrations with the lack of effective U.S. political action: “No amount of death, no amount of children being massacred by US made bombs is going to motivate the United States to take concrete action and stop supplying Israel with weapons of mass destruction. That’s why we’re consistent, we come out every month every time there’s a massacre. And also we’re organizing beyond that too. We’re organizing our communities, students, our labor, every sector of our society and we’ve been more successful than ever.”
The demonstration extended well into the misty night, with a reflective pause for the Maghrib evening prayer. As the conflict continues to deepen, organizers and participants vowed to intensify their protests, signaling a growing movement.
