Via TOI:
Several Jewish parents expressed outrage over the weekend after children at a New York City school were instructed to observe a moment of silence for the dozens of Palestinians killed during clashes along the Gaza border.
The announcement of the Tuesday tribute at Beacon High School in Hell’s Kitchen was made by a student over the school’s PA system. It was not clear whether the decision had been approved by the school principal.
The New York Post, which reported the story, said it was not able to reach principal Ruth Lacey for comment.
Parents said they didn’t understand why the school chose to suddenly take a stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“I am extremely upset because I did not send my child to a New York City public school to pray for Hamas operatives,” a Jewish father told the Post.
The deaths of 62 Palestinians during Monday’s violent protests were met with international outrage and calls for an independent investigation of events. The UN’s Human Rights Council on Friday ordered a probe, and a resolution prepared by Kuwait for the UN Security Council urges the deployment of an international force to protect Gazans. Hamas has subsequently admitted that 50 of the dead were members of the terror group. Three others were Islamic Jihad members.
“I just don’t think any school should be promoting a moment of silence for terrorists. What if it was Islamic terrorists in ISIS?” a Jewish mother said. “No school would be having that over the loudspeaker.”