An Elderly Jewish man has died after a confrontation with a pro-Palestinian protester in California.
On Nov. 7, 2023, Paul Kessler, an elderly Jewish man who was attending a pro-Israel rally in California, died after a physical confrontation with a pro-Palestinian counter protester, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.
Monday evening of Nov. 6, 2023, Deputies were dispatched to Westlake after reports of a battery at a demonstration on Westlake and Thousand Oaks Boulevards following a verbal altercation that broke out involving 69-year-old Paul Kessler and an unnamed pro-Palestinian protester, according to the press release by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.
The press release states, “During the altercation, Kessler fell backwards and struck his head on the ground.”
The incident is currently under investigation and the possibility of a “hate crime” has not been ruled out per the press release.
According to the Associated Press, since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out last month protests have been held around the world over the deaths of thousands. Hamas militants have been condemned for invading Israel and killing and kidnaping civilians while Israel has been accused of indiscriminate bombing that has killed many civilians in Gaza.
