About 80 protesters gathered in front of the Israeli consulate in the Loop Thursday to pray for starvation to end in Gaza and demand the United States pull its financial support for Israel.

Members held protest signs that read “America stop funding genocide” and “Everyone in Gaza is starving” while leading prayers and sharing their message for peace. Some shared stories of people they lost, before and in the 22 months of the war that began with a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.

Led by the Rev. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Catholic Church, the group included members of his South Side church, Muslim civil rights nonprofit CAIR-Chicago and Jewish Voices for Peace, among other organizations.

“We are here today to call for a cease-fire. We are here today to demand a release of all host

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