Supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris shouted back at several pro-Palestinian protesters who showed up outside the crowd that lined up to watch the Democratic presidential nominee at Wilkes University on Friday.
“Have you heard anything about Hamas?” a Harris supporter from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, who later identified himself as Frank, yelled back at a man waving a Palestinian flag and criticizing the protesters, who was joined by the female protester who had spoken earlier and about five others.
“You're a peddler of lies,” a male pro-Palestinian protester retorted. “You're the coward. Show your strength. Let your people survive. That's what we want.”
The woman shouted at the crowd, trying to argue there was little difference between Harris and former President Trump over the Israel-Gaza conflict and the Jerusalem government's response to the October 7 terror attacks.
Kamala Harris: We need to chart a path to a ceasefire and a two-state solution
Speaking to Fox News Digital after the riot, Frank said he was tired of the protesters calling him names and that he had to say something.
“War is [in Gaza] That's terrible… but they're complaining about Kamala calling for a ceasefire.
“[The protesters] “They represent the Palestinians, which is fine, but they say nothing about Hamas and the horror that started all of this,” Frank added.
“And it says nothing about Hamas using Palestinians as human shields. You know, the U.S. has been trying to negotiate a ceasefire here for months. The problem is Netanyahu and the right wing of the Israeli government. They don't even want a two-state solution.”
While Frank criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for continuing, and likely continuing to do so, indiscriminately bombing the Gaza Strip, he also stressed that the United States has made commitments to Israel and must keep them.
“[America] “Hamas has a longstanding commitment to defending Israel's right to exist, dating back to the year I was born. Hamas' avowed objective is the end of Israel as a state,” he said.
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Frank, a Stroudsburg native who supports Vice President Harris, fired back at pro-Palestinian protesters who mocked rally-goers. (Charlie Kreitz/Fox News)
“Look, these people have a perfect right to say what they want to say, but that's a very narrow view of everything. What's actually going on here. And virtually everyone wants peace.”
“Kamala Harris is on record as advocating a ceasefire, so let's channel our anger somewhere that might do some good.”
After speaking with Frank, Fox News Digital also caught up with Loay, a male protester who was involved in an altercation with Harris supporters.
Loai said he was born in the Palestinian Territories but now lives in his hometown of Wyoming Valley.
When asked why he and his group were protesting the Harris rally, Loay said the vice president supports “Zionists.” [and is] I support Israel.”
Loay added that Harris and Trump are “essentially” on the same page on the issue. When asked which he would prefer if he had to choose, Loay joked, “Let's see which one stinks less.”
Loai, a pro-Palestinian protester who said he is from the Palestinian territories but now lives in his hometown in the Wyoming Valley, and fellow rally-goer Frank got into a shouting argument across the road outside Harris' rally. (Charlie Kreitz/Fox News)
“We want to see the genocide stop,” he added.
Loai also said he “doesn't care” about Israel and that he does not personally call for its destruction as other protesters have chanted “from the river to the sea,” a line that echoes calls for the destruction of Israel.
“We don't care if Israel is there or not. It doesn't concern us. We are Americans here. We want to stop this genocide. Wherever they go, they just [need] To get out of hell [the Palestinian territory]”
Fox News Digital's Matteo Cina contributed to this report..
