CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Protesters around the world are calling on Israel to show restraint after weeks of airstrikes in Gaza that left more than 200 people dead. Most of the victims are Palestinian civilians.
Meanwhile, the Israeli government is defending one of its recent attacks. CBS News correspondent Laura Podesta has more.
The Associated Press' top editor, along with media watchdog Reporters without Borders, are calling for an investigation into an Israeli airstrike over the weekend that leveled a Gaza building housing media. Israel insists it was also housing militants.
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Demonstrations against the violence in the Middle East are extending to Chicago.
At a rally Sunday, which kicked off a march from Grant Park and continued in the form of Palestinian Flag wielding vehicle caravans in the city throughout the night, Palestinian-Americans and supporters of a cease fire decried strikes from Israel into Gaza targeting Hamas military targets, saying that civilian casualties were inevitable and that Hamas in general does not have support of the Palestinian people that are put at risk.
"Not much. They have put children in harm's way, put the places where they fire their rockets from in residential areas," said one protester.
The Midwest Consulate General of Israel has reached out to WBBM Newsradio to try and educate the Chicago area on the issues that Israel faces in conflict with Hamas and their strategy in Gaza.
Consul General to Israel in the Midwest Aviv Ezra told WBBM Newsradio that in Hamas, Israel is dealing with an organization bent on the county's destruction and that Israel is forced to protect its citizens against strikes that come first from Hamas which is embedded in Gaza.
"The Hamas charter is explicitly talking about their goals, which is to kill Jews, kill Israelis, and a total annihilation of Israel; and unfortunately for them, we are now willing to cooperate," he said.
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Ezra fields concerns of Palestinian civilian casualties caused by retaliatory Israeli strikes. He said putting civilians at risk is a large part of Hamas strategy.
"They are hiding behind civilians. The Hamas is literally shooting from hospitals, schools..."
Ezra said that Hamas knows how it looks to the world when Palestinians die by Israeli bombs and that the Israeli government attempts to warn civilians of impending attacks.
"...We can call the people that live in the building, and we tell them that we are going to be taking down that specific house because there are terrorists...shooting from there," he said.
The Consul General added that the warnings come even at the risk of alerting the potential targets that often get away.
He said Palestinians themselves will need to stand up to Hamas.
Until that day, he said, Israel will continue defending its people when necessary.