On the terror attack's second anniversary earlier this month, some people gathered to mourn those who were slaughtered and kidnapped that day, but others, notably in New York, took to the streets to advocate for the terrorists, chanting, "Glory to our martyrs" and waving jihadist flags adorned with machine guns.
Aaron Bandler, the U.S. national correspondent for Jewish News Syndicate, does not think the protests will subside anytime soon.
"They probably are going to become a regular thing even long after the war is over because I think so many people became emboldened," he tells AFN.
He says there was a stunned silence when President Trump announced his peace deal between Israel and Hamas. Both sides signed off on it October 8, with Israel agreeing to release nearly 2,000 prisoners in exchange for the Israeli captives.
The 20 living hostages are now free, which Bandler says is "huge," but the peace deal remains on shaky ground as Hamas is reportedly carrying out public executions of apparent enemies.
"We're already seeing reports that Hamas has not given over all the bodies of the hostages that were killed in captivity," Bandler adds.
Of the 28 slain, 19 still remained with Hamas as of last Wednesday. Israel Defense Forces say it will require "significant efforts" to retrieve the remaining bodies.
Bandler says whether the agreement holds "really depends on if Hamas holds up their end of the bargain," but he does not think the terrorists can be trusted.
"We just have to wait and see," he states.
The fact remains that Hamas has long called for the destruction of Israel, and Jewish students are still being harassed, and synagogues are still being vandalized as calls to "globalize the intifada" spread.
