Middle East Violence Sparks Protests in LA

The conflict between Israel and Hamas militants continues in Gaza.

As the worst violence in recent years continued to rage between Israel and Palestine, demonstrators sympathetic to both sides of the conflict gathered Thursday night near the Israeli Consulate on Wilshire Boulevard.

Protestors sympathetic to Palestinians in Gaza chanted, "Free, free Palestine."

"The Palestinians are retaliating by sending rockets," said Tawfieq Mousa. "They're defending themselves like Israel is defending themselves."

But across the street, demonstrators sympathetic to Israel's security from Hamas rocket attacks had a different view.

"We gave them the whole of Gaza and all it did was bring their rockets closer and the last few weeks and months we've seen what that has brought.," said Moshe Parry.

The two sides along Wilshire Boulevard were kept apart by the Los Angeles Police Department. Overseas, there were no such barriers, and by late Thursday, the conflict was still intense, NBC News reports.

Palestinians fired more than 250 rockets toward Israel on Thursday, including attacks that hit Tel Aviv, where warning sirens could be heard. Israel's anti-rocket system destroyed most of the rockets, but three Israeli civilians were killed.

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Israel launched at least 200 air attacks against Palestinian targets, mainly stockpiles of rockets, but there were at least 19 civilian casualties, including at least one infant.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not rule out a ground assault.

"Israel will do whatever is necessary to defend itself," he said Thursday.

Israeli troops were seen moving toward the Gaza border area and the government approved mobilizing up to 30,000 reservists for a possible ground invasion.

If there were any diplomatic efforts to stop the escalating violence, they were not readily apparent late Thursday.

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