By Abraham Kenmore
SCDailyGazette.com
SENECA — Pro-Palestinian protestors picketed outside the home of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Thursday over his support for Israel in the country’s ongoing war in Gaza.
“While I respect the right to peacefully protest, I apologize to my neighbors and their families for the disruption on the Fourth of July caused by this pro-Palestinian group,” Graham wrote in a statement. “I want to make it crystal clear: I am with Israel wholly and completely. As I have consistently said, give Israel the weapons they need to win the war they can’t afford to lose.”
The nine-month Israel-Hamas war has divided Americans, with supporters of Israel saying the country needs to eliminate the militant group Hamas following its attack on Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 civilians and taking some 250 hostages in the deadliest day of the Jewish state’s 75-year history.
The Associated Press reported on Thursday that the death toll in the Gaza Strip has surpassed 38,000, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. In some cases, Israeli attacks have nearly eliminated entire families. Opponents of the war say the scale of violence and displacement within Gaza, which some have described as genocide against Palestinians, is not justifiable.
The protest outside Graham’s home was organized by the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Dana Alhasan, a member of the party who attended the protest, said it was the first in a series of planned protests against U.S. support for Israel around South Carolina.
“It’s important to let Lindsey Graham know the people don’t stand for genocide,” Alhasan said.
Graham also claimed in his statement that Palestinians in Gaza are “taught to hate Jews from birth.” Alhasan said she resented the suggestion that all Palestinians are antisemitic and described the comment as “disgusting and unwarranted.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations on Friday also condemned Graham’s statement as “hateful and absurd.”
Alhasan said the protest lasted about three hours. Graham posted video of the demonstration on social media, showing protesters standing on the side of the street chanting and holding a large Palestinian flag.
Abraham Kenmore is a reporter covering elections, health care and more. He joins the S.C. Daily Gazette from The Augusta Chronicle, where he reported on Georgia legislators, military and housing issues.
S.C. Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
