LANCASTER, Pa. — On Friday, some Lancaster community members held a candlelight vigil to honor those killed in the Israel-Hamas war.
“I think for me, the immense amount of human life that’s been lost, both Israeli and Palestinian is heartbreaking,” said Rebecca Rast, a volunteer with Lancaster Stands Up.
It was October 7 when Hamas launched an attack against Israel, catapulting the nation into war.
Thousands of Israelis and Palestinians have been killed and as the death toll rises, some Pennsylvanians are calling on state lawmakers to support an immediate ceasefire.
“Our representatives Smucker, Casey, and Fetterman need to immediately support a ceasefire, we’re not going to get to any political solution until the violence ends,” Rast said.
Some demonstrators at the rally were of Israeli and Palestinian heritage. They shared stories of what they experienced overseas before immigrating to the United States.
Among the demonstrators was Suad Sadek who immigrated to the United States in 2008 after Israel launched an attack on Hamas in response to rocket fire from Gaza.
“It is a very simple ask; it speaks to our humanity that you should never look at people being murdered and try to justify that,” Sadek said.
Sadek’s father, two brothers, and two sisters remain in Gaza. She says communication with them was cut off on Friday.
“I want us to stop before I get the phone call that my dad and my siblings are dead, I need it to end now,” Sadek said.
Rast hopes support for the war will decrease as more people pressure their elected officials.
“If you want to see an end to the war in Gaza, take five minutes and call your representatives,” Rast said.
“If you think that you, your voice wouldn’t matter because everyone has been calling them, it does matter whether you’re the millionth caller or the fifth millionth caller, it does not matter every single voice is important,” Sadek added.
An estimated 7,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war. It is unknown the number of Israelis killed.