Gaza strife is felt in L.A.

Supporters of both sides in the conflict in Gaza held another round of boisterous but peaceful demonstrations in front of the Federal Building in Westwood on Sunday, separated by dozens of police officers.

At a pro-Palestinian rally that began about noon, hundreds of demonstrators lined the curb on Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood, waving flags and posters. Some read “End the occupation. Start the peace.” Another proclaimed, “Gaza = Auschwitz.”

A somewhat larger gathering of pro-Israeli demonstrators convened on the same side of Wilshire with flags and signs of their own. “Hamas stop using children as human shields,” read one.

Protesters have staged demonstrations for days in Los Angeles over Israel’s two-week strike at Hamas strongholds in the Gaza Strip following the group’s rocket launches into Israel.

Pro-Palestinian protesters knelt for Muslim prayers and then stood on the grass in front of the Federal Building to listen to speakers.

“The whole of Gaza is in ruins. We’re here to pray for the dead, the victims. We want peace for all people. We want an immediate cease-fire,” declared Muzammil Siddiqi, chairman of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California.

The demonstrators carried 10 cardboard boxes -- makeshift coffins draped with the Palestinian flag.

Shakeel Syed, executive director of the Shura Council, said they were in honor of Gaza residents who had been denied a proper and timely burial in accordance with the Muslim religion.

The rally drew Christians, Muslims and Jews.

“We don’t think this force is accomplishing anything,” said Jeff Warner, action coordinator for L.A. Jews for Peace. “The war isn’t going to bring peace, security or prosperity to either the Israeli or Palestinian people. The only thing is a negotiated solution.”

Police stood between them and pro-Israeli demonstrators. The California Highway Patrol made one arrest.

Roz Rothstein, chief executive and international director for StandWithUs, a pro-Israel advocacy group, defended the Israeli action.

“We want to make sure that there is no confusion; that Israel did not choose this war,” Rothstein said. “We have months and years of rocket-firing into Israel from Hamas, and we have dead people. And that’s why we continue this.”

The crowd cheered as several school buses pulled up, packed with Boy Scouts who leaned out the windows waving Israeli flags.

Overhead, a small plane pulled a banner: “Israel we stand with you.” Passing drivers honked in support of both sides.

Allyson Rowen Taylor, who lives in the San Fernando Valley, held up a sign. “Proud mom of a soldier serving in IDF,” it read, referring to the Israeli army, where her son is an infantryman.

Los Angeles City Councilman Jack Weiss and L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky were among several speakers addressing the pro-Israel group.

“What would any country do?” asked Shoham Nicolet, executive director of the Los Angeles-based Israeli Leadership Council. “This is the right and duty of Israel . . . to defend itself.”

In a television interview Sunday, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa defended his support of Israel, where he visited last summer, and held Hamas responsible for the ongoing conflict.

“If someone was launching rockets at us, do you think we would wait for 6,000 rockets to respond? Of course not,” Villaraigosa said. “We would respond almost immediately.”

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ann.simmons@latimes.com