SCRANTON, Pa. — Walking as one, supporters from across Lackawanna County stood together in downtown Scranton, standing up for those fighting for their lives in Palestine.
Farouk Abgrabbo from Moscow is leading the crowd as they circle around Courthouse Square, thinking of his family who is living through the war overseas.
“What they're doing to our children, they killed thousands of our children,” said Farouk Abgrabbo, Scranton Islamic Association President.
Teaching others the harsh realities his loved ones are facing through the megaphone.
Rafed Aljoboury from Scranton says the hardest facts to face are the growing numbers of children being killed due to the war in Gaza.
“I mean, look at the images of children torn apart. We're talking about 60-70% of the victims are children,” Rafed Aljobourd said.
According to UNICEF, more than 3,000 children have died due to the bombings in Palestine, encouraging people to stand up here at the Lackawanna County Courthouse for their loved ones living overseas and living through the ongoing conflicts.
Last week, Farouk learned his niece and her three children were killed in the attacks in Gaza.
“My mother is from Gaza, my father is from Jerusalem, I'm from Jerusalem,” he mentioned.
What both Farouk and Rafed hope to live to see is the violence come to an end.
“This is not what we know. Judaism is a religion of peace, just like Christianity and Islam. They don't slaughter children, they don't slaughter innocent people,” Aljobourd added.
Until they see the end of the war between Israel and Palestine, they will continue to make their voices heard.
”We never disappear. We are Palestinian, we will be seen, we never forget our country, we will never give up on our country, to Israel or any other country,” Abgrabbo explained.
To learn more about the war unfolding in Gaza, click here.