Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) slammed a group of pro-Palestinian supporters for staging a protest outside of a Jewish restaurant.
The former lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania has come out in support of Israel since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack left more than 1,400 people dead and more than 240 people taken as hostages. Fetterman labeled the protest on Sunday outside of Goldie, an Israeli falafel restaurant in Philadelphia, as “pathetic.”
“They could be protesting Hamas,” Fetterman wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “They could be protesting Hamas’ systematic rape of Israeli women and girls or demanding the remaining hostages be immediately released.”
“Instead, they targeted a Jewish restaurant,” Fetterman added. “It’s pathetic and rank antisemitism.”
Hundreds of people took part in the protest organized by Philly Palestine Coalition (PPC), according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. As people marched through Center City and University City, they could be heard chanting, “while you’re watching, bombs are dropping” as Eagles fans watched the game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Protesters were also heard chanting, “Goldie, Goldie you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide,” outside of the restaurant, according to a video posted to X.
The restaurant is reportedly part of the CookNSolo group, which is co-owned by Michael Solomonov, who was born in Israel. PPC has previously called for a boycott of several Israeli restaurants, including ones owned by CookNSolo, according to the outlet.
Protestors in Philadelphia stand outside of a Jewish & Israeli owned falafel restaurant
— Jordan (@thatJVG) December 3, 2023
“Goldie, Goldie you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide” pic.twitter.com/yF7hQwev66
The protest comes after Israel and Hamas resumed fighting after a week-long truce agreement expired.
As a result of the truce, more than 100 hostages were released by Hamas. Hamas is still believed to have more than 140 hostages in its custody.
So far, roughly 14,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been reported to have been killed as a result of the fighting in Gaza, the Ministry of Health, run by Hamas, claims.
