NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: In the wake of the deadly Israel-Hamas war, a bizarre internet theory claims that J Street, a pro-Israel, pro-peace group, is allegedly the driving force behind a new movement named "Queers for Palestine".
Numerous US states have seen a large influx of pro-Palestinian protestors taking to the streets to express their outrage at Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
The Jewish state declared war and began pounding Gaza after Palestinian militant organization Hamas invaded Israeli land on October 7, 2023, and abducted over 220 individuals in addition to killing over 1,400 people.
At several demonstrations, people from the LGBTQ+ community were seen voicing their support for Palestine, with huge placards that read “Queers for liberated Palestine” or “Gays 4 Gaza ceasefire now”.
A viral video also showed a combined LGBTQ+ and Palestinian flag being flown at a protest in New York. Reflecting on the flag, an internet user claimed that the pro-Israel group J Street has been fanning the movement to undermine the Palestinian community.
“Look into “J STREET Jewish” They are behind the “queers for Palestine” it’s an attempt to subvert Palestinian society,” the user tweeted without any concrete evidence.
J Street’s official website claims that the organization was founded “to serve as the political home and voice for pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy Americans.”
“J Street organizes pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy Americans to promote US policies that embody our deeply held Jewish and democratic values and that help secure the State of Israel as a democratic homeland for the Jewish people,” it continued.
LGBTQ+ community joins pro-Palestine protests
Thousands of LGBTQ+ community members have been actively participating in pro-Palestine protests to voice their support for the nation amid the ongoing deadly war that has nearly wiped out a whole generation.
In a now-viral video, several protesters were seen yelling, “F**k Israel”, “We understand Palestinian liberation is Black liberation” or "Queer rights! Trans rights! We say no to genocide!"
Israel's X account previously shared a post accompanied by a video that read, “A combined LGBTQ + Palestine flag in New York protest today. Why are there so many 'queers FOR Palestine', but absolutely no 'queers IN Palestine’?”
The shared post carried the message from Israel, “Looking forward to seeing Hamas raise the rainbow flag across Gaza as a thank you for your solidarity.”
Similar protests were also noticed in London, where protesters held a large banner reading "Lesbians and Gays Support The Migrants", according to Daily Mail.
Palestine’s history against the LGBTQ community
Many have slammed LGBTQ community members for supporting Palestine despite its long history of violence against gay and transgender people.
In 2022, an Amnesty report noted how "authorities failed to prevent and investigate homophobic and transphobic threats and attacks" in the Middle Eastern state.
"On July 9, 2022, security forces stood by and watched as a mob beat youths and children participating in a parade organized by Ashtar Theatre in Ramallah that included rainbow flags," the study added, citing an instance of homophobia in the country.
“The attack came amid a wave of incitement to violence and hate speech against LGBTI people and feminists that the authorities failed to investigate,” it continued.
Mahmoud Ishtiwi, one of the Hamas commanders, was also allegedly killed by the group in 2016 after it was suspected that he had sex with another man, according to the Reason.
Writing for the Washington Blade, gay rights campaigner and Israeli author Lior Halabi recently criticized what he called the "hypocrisy" of advancing both causes.
“Despite the dark situation for gay Palestinians who face legal and social abuse and even murder by Hamas in Gaza and the West Bank, some US left-wing and LGBTQ groups bizarrely still support the Free Palestine group,” Halabi wrote, adding, “This group, while calling for Israel’s destruction, allows the abuse of its own LGBTQ people."
