In a show of solidarity with the people of Palestine, a large group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through the streets of West Los Angeles on Saturday, demanding an immediate end to Israel's bombardment and occupation of Gaza. The marchers gathered at the Los Angeles Israeli Consulate, condemning the ongoing violence that has claimed thousands of lives.

According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza, the Palestinian death toll in the Israel-Hamas war has now reached 9,448. In Israel, more than 1,400 people have been killed, with the majority of casualties occurring in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that sparked the war, as reported by the Associated Press.

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas enters its fourth week, anger and frustration are mounting in Southern California. The demonstration in Los Angeles, joined by thousands of others across the globe from Washington to Milan to Paris, aimed to amplify the call for peace.

Describing Israel's military offensive in Gaza as a "genocidal invasion and occupation," the L.A. demonstrators demanded an immediate halt to the violence. Protester Sam Suleiman said, "It's always been a land grab, continued settlement expansion, and really, an ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. Everybody here, everybody in the world is calling for a ceasefire and the ending of this genocide."

Stephanie Gutierrez, a marcher with BAMN, stated, "We're here and marching in solidarity with the March on Washington today, calling for an end to the occupation of Gaza. We're calling for freedom to the Palestinian people and we are a part of this global movement."

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected growing U.S. pressure for a "humanitarian pause" in the war, insisting that a temporary cease-fire would only be considered once the roughly 240 hostages held by Hamas are released. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on his third trip to Israel since the conflict began, reiterated American support for Israel's campaign against Hamas while also highlighting the need for a brief halt in the fighting to address the worsening humanitarian crisis.

Amid mounting concern over Palestinian deaths and the deteriorating situation for civilians, hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed and on the brink of collapse, with limited supplies of medicine and fuel due to the Israeli siege. The United Nations reported that approximately 1.5 million people, or 70% of Gaza's population, have been displaced from their homes.

With limited access to food and dwindling supplies, the average Gaza resident now survives on just two pieces of bread per day, much of which is made from stockpiled U.N. flour. The demand for drinking water is also increasing, highlighting the dire conditions faced by the people of Gaza.

As the global community witnesses the devastating toll of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the call for an end to the occupation and a lasting peace intensifies. The demonstration in Los Angeles, along with similar protests around the world, serves as a powerful reminder that the fight for justice continues, even from thousands of miles away.