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ALBANY - A rally and a counter-demonstration ovre the Middle East conflict took place next to the State Capitol Tuesday.
"Ceasefire! Now!" chanted one group.
At the same time, across State street, another group chanted, "Jewish blood isn't cheap!"
When the two groups met, tempers flared.
"However, however what Israel is doing, is self-defense," yelled one protester.
"Israel doesn't create hate. Hamas creates hate!" yelled another.
On the one side, people spoke out for Palestinian rights; those who call for peace with humanitarian concerns.
"Not only stopping the war but stopping the war is not enough, or the genocide. I want them to actually engage in talking to Hamas to find a solution, said Zuhair Alatwi.
"Right now, it's the slaughter of the innocents. The average person there is not firing rockets," said Jen Illenberg.
"War crimes. Violation of international law," said Joseph Koczaja.
"They say it's to stop Hamas rockets, but end the occupation and the rockets will stop," added Alatwi.
Those supporting Israel say Hamas has been firing rockets into and terrorizing southern Israel for seven years.
"Israel responded, just as America would respond and it's part of the larger terrorist network, whether it be Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah that wants to take on not only Israel and the Jewish people, but all free people everywhere in the west" said Larry Farbstein.
"Israel has had enough. I myself missed a rocket four years ago when I was in Steroad. I've seen children scarred with these rockets. Hamas is using their people as human shields," said Jack Lauber.
"Every time it doesn't defend itself, it just emboldens them to take more suicide bombings, more rocket attacks, more death and destruction, and the world sits idly by," said Farbstein.
International pressure is mounting to end the eleven-day offensive in Gaza.
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