The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and law enforcement officials say there is no known credible threat to the local Jewish community after a former Hamas leader called for a “day of rage” on Friday.
“The Los Angeles Police Department is aware of recent statements calling for action related to the conflict in the Middle East,” the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement. “We have no information of any specific or credible threats to the city of Los Angeles, but we continue to assess the situation for any potential impact on our communities.”
The police department said it would provide extra patrols.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department issued a nearly identical statement, adding: “We are conducting extra patrol checks and supplementing with additional personnel from the detective division and special units to provide high visibility in strategic locations throughout the county. In addition, we are reaching out to our local religious communities to reassure them during this turbulent time.
Various other local law enforcement agencies have also issued statements with similar themes of increased patrols, calls for vigilance by residents and insistence that there are no known credible threats in the area.
“There is some concern and fear, especially when there’s this call to dismantle and attack the Jewish community worldwide,” said Peter Levi, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League in Orange County and Long Beach.
Locally, some Jewish people are on edge after someone was seen waving a Nazi flag over the 405 Freeway in Irvine on Wednesday morning.
“It’s just a disgusting act of hate that, even though it’s protected by the First Amendment, should not be tolerated in our society,” Levi said. “We just don’t need that kind of hate.”
As Israel continues to bomb Gaza and more details emerge about the atrocities committed by Hamas, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“The failure to unequivocally condemn terrorism endangers not only the people of Israel, but people everywhere,” Blinken said at a joint press conference with Netanyahu in Tel Aviv.
Netanyahu thanked the US for its “incredible support for Israel” in his country’s “war against the barbarians of Hamas”.
The situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with more than 1,500 people killed and over 6,600 injured.
Hamas is Israel’s target, but innocent civilians are caught in the middle – running from explosions and trying to find supplies that are running out.
“There have been many bombings around us, but one of them was about 150 metres from my house,” said Tala Herzallah, a student at the Islamic University.
“There is nothing we can do,” said Afaf Najar, who is sheltering in Gaza. “Even the place I’m in now is almost out of water, almost out of food.”
More than 1,200 Israelis have been killed and over 2,900 injured.