Authorities Southern California are looking into the death of a Jewish man following a clash with a pro-Palestinian supporter. The incident occurred during one of the numerous protests associated with the Israel-Hamas conflict. When police and paramedics arrived at the scene, 69-year-old Paul Kesler was conscious but severely injured, with a head injury that later proved fatal.
The coroner has determined that the cause of death was a blunt force head injury, possibly resulting from a fall during the altercation with the counter-protester. Investigators are considering the possibility of a hate crime and treating the case as a homicide. The incident took place outside Los Angeles, where Kesler, a member of a pro-Israel group, encountered a participant in the pro-Palestinian rally.
The specifics of how the confrontation unfolded are still being investigated. Kesler shared some information with investigators before he passed away, but they are not able to disclose this information yet. They are calling on witnesses and individuals with videos of the event to come forward. The incident has prompted concerns from the Council on American Islamic Relations, urging the public not to rush to conclusions.
This deadly encounter is the latest in a series of troubling incidents amid dueling protests, including an Arab Muslim student being run over by a car in an alleged hate crime in Stanford University, and a man in Arizona threatening to harm a local rabbi. The Anti-Defamation League reports a significant increase in anti-Semitic incidents since the Israel-Hamas conflict began. Local authorities are increasing patrols at synagogues and mosques..
