At a rally for Palestinian solidarity in California, a tragic event occurred where a Jewish individual lost his life, leading to a police investigation considering the act as potentially motivated by hate.
Paul Kessler, aged 69, was present at an event on Sunday afternoon in Thousand Oaks, California, which coincided with a pro-Israel rally. Kessler was there to express his support for Israel. The longstanding conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, especially with the involvement of Hamas, has been marked by violence, most recently flaring up in October with attacks on Israel by Hamas. At the Ventura County event, a confrontation escalated between Kessler and some Palestinian demonstrators, culminating in a physical altercation.
Authorities reported that Kessler was pushed, fell, and struck his head on the pavement. Footage of the aftermath shows Kessler lying on the sidewalk, receiving aid from bystanders, clearly in distress.
Kessler was taken to a hospital, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries. The Los Angeles County Coroner classified his death as a homicide. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is thoroughly investigating the incident, including the potential of a hate crime classification, though no arrests have been made at this point.
