Jewish Man Dies After Confrontation During Pro-Israel And Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A 69-year-old Jewish man died Monday after falling and putting his head following a confrontation yesterday throughout competing pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations in suburban Los Angeles, authorities stated.

Paul Kessler’s demise was being investigated as a murder and authorities haven’t dominated out the chance a hate crime occurred, stated a press release from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Division. No arrests had been made.

Kessler was injured shortly earlier than 3:30 p.m. Sunday throughout competing demonstrations in Thousand Oaks, a metropolis of about 125,000 northwest of Los Angeles. Police obtained experiences {that a} battery had occurred and deputies despatched to the scene discovered Kessler affected by a head wound, the division stated.

“Witness accounts indicated that Kessler was concerned in a bodily altercation with counter-protestor(s). In the course of the altercation, Kessler fell backwards and struck his head on the bottom,” the division stated.

An post-mortem performed Monday decided Kessler died from a blunt pressure head harm and it was murder, the division stated.

The Jewish Federation of Better Los Angeles stated Kessler was Jewish and that he was struck within the head by a megaphone held by a pro-Palestinian demonstrator. The sheriff’s division didn’t instantly verify these particulars however deliberate a information convention Tuesday morning.

Rabbi Michael Barclay of Temple Ner Simcha in Westlake Village, close to Thousand Oaks, urged individuals to keep away from leaping to conclusions about what occurred.

“I simply acquired off the telephone with the Chief of Police,” he posted on X, previously Twitter. “They’ve conflicting experiences of what occurred, they usually did interview the suspect that’s recognized in social media on the occasion. They haven’t any video.”

He stated police are being cautious earlier than making accusations. “We have to do the identical; and never let this change into a spark that begins an inferno,” he wrote.

Because the struggle between Israel and Hamas broke out final month protests have been held all over the world. Hamas militants have been condemned for invading Israel and killing and kidnaping civilians whereas Israel has been accused of indiscriminate bombing that has killed many civilians in Gaza.