Sacramento faith-based leaders concerned rift remains after deal for ceasefire in Gaza
SACRAMENTO – The Israeli-Hamas conflict has created tension across California and in Sacramento. Now, several faith-based leaders are concerned the rift remains after Wednesday's announced ceasefire.
Rabbi Ben Herman at Mosaic Law Congregation in Sacramento showed the pictures of two Israeli hostages taken captive on Oct. 7 that his synagogue is sponsoring, Israeli Officer Omer Wenkert and Israeli citizen Keith Siegel.
"He was taken, he was forced for his car to be taken to Gaza," Herman said.
Herman is concerned this announced ceasefire won't last.
"Based on the history unfortunately, I do not believe that will happen but it is a good moment of respite for pause and for reuniting some of these hostages with their families," Herman said.
Basim Elkara is the executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations in Sacramento. He showed a picture of his 7-year-old cousin Farah Elkara, among his 113 family members killed in Gaza since the bombing started.
"You know, it's an emotional roller coaster," Elkara said. "Everyone is just on edge until that moment when it officially goes into effect. And that's when we can finally start figuring out who made it, who's alive. Who didn't make it."
The Israeli-Hamas conflict has led to protests inside Sacramento city hall and on campuses across the state, even leading the University of California and California State University to change their enforcement policies.
The statewide systems released new rules for protests ahead of this school year. There can be no encampments of any kind, no temporary or permanent structures and no wearing masks to conceal identities with the intent of intimidating.
Now even as a Middle East ceasefire is announced, the rifts remain.
"You know, it's changed us," Elkara said. "It's changed us, it's changed our community, and I believe it's changed our country."
"I wish it would help heal it," Herman said. "I'm really not sure it will."
This ceasefire is bringing these Sacramento leaders no sense of peace.