Suburban residents react to Israel-Gaza conflict

From thousands of miles away, Chicago-area Jewish leaders and Palestinian activists expressed a mix of anger, grief and defiance after Hamas fighters launched a multipronged attack on Israel, and Israeli forces retaliated with airstrikes in Gaza Saturday.

The eruption of violence and bloodshed left suburban families worried for their loved ones in the region and untangling the complexities behind decades of conflict.

Members of Illinois’ congressional delegation were quick to condemn the surprise attacks by Hamas during the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. And, Palestinian rights groups plan to rally outside the Israeli consulate in Chicago Sunday afternoon to draw attention to Palestinians living under Israeli occupation.

Rabbi Andrew Bossov of Congregation Am Echod in Grayslake struggled to make sense of the latest escalation. He questioned what would be accomplished from the attacks against Israel and its military prowess. Israel, he…