Chicago Jewish community celebrating Israel Independence Day is met by pro-Palestinian protesters in Daley Plaza

Chicago’s Jewish community celebrated a solemn Israel Independence Day on Tuesday during a flag-raising ceremony at Daley Plaza that was minimally impacted by pro-Palestinian protesters calling for an end to the war in Gaza.The midday gathering took over a large chunk of the plaza and celebrated Israel declaring its independence 76 years ago, on May 14, 1948. But the event was “tinged with sorrow” as the Jewish community awaits the return of more than 100 hostages still held captive by Hamas after the , said David Golder, chair of the Jewish United Fund.“Our celebration cannot be completed until all of our brothers and sisters who are captives in Gaza return to their homes,” Golder said.Before Golder took the stage, a DJ played the same electronic music that was heard at the Tribe of Nova music festival the morning of Oct. 7 before concertgoers were attacked by Hamas.“For the families of the murdered — of the fallen — their pain is our pain,” Golder said.The event was hosted by the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest and the Jewish United Fund, among other groups. Many attendees said they took breaks from work downtown. Several school buses dropped off children waving Israeli flags. Other speakers included Ald. Debra Silverstein (50th) and Consul General of Israel to the Midwest Yinam Cohen.A much smaller contingent of pro-Palestinian protesters convened on the plaza at the same time to protest Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. They held a large banner reading, “Israeli independence is built on Palestinian graves.”More than 35,000 people have been killed in Gaza by Israeli attacks, according to Gazan officials, since Hamas’ initial attack on Israel. That attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 left about 1,200 people dead and around 250 people taken hostage.Pro-Palestinian protesters also demonstrated in Daley Plaza. Police say no arrests were made.Victor Hilitski/For The Sun-TimesSeveral dozen Chicago police officers kept the pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups apart. On several occasions, someone from one camp wandered into the other, sometimes waving a flag or yelling at the other group before an officer would escort them away. At one point, two men climbed onto the stage waving Palestinian flags before police officers escorted them back to the protest camp. A Chicago police spokesman said no one was detained or arrested.Israel’s Independence Day comes as have broken out on college campuses across the country, including in Chicago.The last standing protest encampment in Chicago is , where school officials over the weekend said they reached an impasse in negotiations with students. Students have been asking the school to end its investments tied to Israel. In the past weeks, police have cited safety issues when clearing encampments at the University of Chicago and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where police arrested 68 people. Northwestern University students after reaching a deal with school authorities.