A 69-year-old Jewish man in California has died following a clash between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine demonstrators.
Witnesses told Ventura County police that Paul Kessler was involved in a confrontation with counter-protesters.
“During the altercation, Kessler fell backwards and struck his head on the ground,” a police statement said. He died in hospital on Monday.
The county medical examiner ruled the cause of death was blunt force trauma “and the manner of death homicide”.
Authorities called the incident isolated but said they have not ruled out the possibility of a hate crime.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles said that Kessler was hit by a megaphone wielded by a pro-Palestinian protester.
That has not been confirmed by police.
Rabbi Michael Barclay of Temple Ner Simcha, a synagogue close to the altercation, urged for calm until the police were able to complete their investigation.
He said the community should not allow Kessler’s death to “become a spark that starts an inferno”.
Hussam Ayloush, the executive director of the Los Angeles Council on American-Islamic Relations organisation, called the loss “tragic and shocking”.
“We join local Jewish leaders in calling on all individuals to refrain from jumping to conclusions, sensationalising such a tragedy for political gains, or spreading rumours that could unnecessarily escalate tensions that are already at an all-time high,” he said.
Kessler’s death has occurred during a tense time in the US over the Israel-Hamas war.
Officials have warned of rising threats and religious-based hate crimes against Jewish and Muslim people since Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October.
More than 1,400 people were killed and more than 200 kidnapped, says Israel.
In Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Gaza, more than 10,000 people have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
A 69-year-old Jewish man in California has died following a clash between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine demonstrators.
Witnesses told Ventura County police that Paul Kessler was involved in a confrontation with counter-protesters.
“During the altercation, Kessler fell backwards and struck his head on the ground,” a police statement said. He died in hospital on Monday.
The county medical examiner ruled the cause of death was blunt force trauma “and the manner of death homicide”.
Authorities called the incident isolated but said they have not ruled out the possibility of a hate crime.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles said that Kessler was hit by a megaphone wielded by a pro-Palestinian protester.
That has not been confirmed by police.
Rabbi Michael Barclay of Temple Ner Simcha, a synagogue close to the altercation, urged for calm until the police were able to complete their investigation.
He said the community should not allow Kessler’s death to “become a spark that starts an inferno”.
Hussam Ayloush, the executive director of the Los Angeles Council on American-Islamic Relations organisation, called the loss “tragic and shocking”.
“We join local Jewish leaders in calling on all individuals to refrain from jumping to conclusions, sensationalising such a tragedy for political gains, or spreading rumours that could unnecessarily escalate tensions that are already at an all-time high,” he said.
Kessler’s death has occurred during a tense time in the US over the Israel-Hamas war.
Officials have warned of rising threats and religious-based hate crimes against Jewish and Muslim people since Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October.
More than 1,400 people were killed and more than 200 kidnapped, says Israel.
In Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Gaza, more than 10,000 people have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
