ABC 7: Rev. Pfleger of St. Sabina Church leads multi-faith protest outside Israeli Consulate of Chicago

Israeli deputy consul general for the Midwest questions authenticity of photos coming out of Gaza

By Sarah Schulte | Thursday, August 7, 2025 6:26PM

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The call for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages got louder Thursday, with a protest in front of the Israeli Consulate in Chicago.

The deputy consulate general responded, defending the Israeli government.

From a peaceful Chicago protest to a larger and louder one in Israel: While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu considers expanding military operations in Gaza, the humanitarian crisis continues to grow, as do voices condemning Israel.

"The people of faith, stand up; speak up. Rise up, and shout out; stop this immoral war now," said the Rev. Michael Pfleger, with St. Sabina Church.

Pfleger led a multi-faith protest and prayer in front of the Loop building that houses the Israeli Consulate. International organizations, including the United Nations, say the 2 million Palestinians living in Gaza face an extreme lack of food and continued airstrikes from Israel.

"I cannot be silent because too many Israeli and American Jews wear blinders when it comes to the lives and suffering of people of color, including Palestinian lives and Palestinian suffering," civil rights attorney Al Hofeld Jr. said.

Speaking up is a Jewish civil rights attorney. He joined Pfleger and others to demand an end to the war.

But, Netanyahu says he wants to control the remainder of Gaza and eventually hand it over to Arab forces to govern without Hamas.

Israeli Deputy Consul General for the Midwest Delphine Gamburg says Israel is running out of options.

"The only goal that we have in expanding the military operation is to return the hostages. Because, unfortunately, we are fighting for that for almost two years now," Gamburg said.

Gamburg also disputes the authenticity of the images coming out of Gaza showing starving children. She says it is propaganda from Hamas.

"They are fake pictures," Gamburg said.

Gamburg denies famine or genocide is occurring in areas controlled by Israel.

Gazan-American William Asfour strongly disagrees.

"My mom's uncle was killed. My mom's aunt was killed. My mom's cousins were killed. The spouses of my mom's cousins were killed," Asfour said.

President Donald Trump has said, "those children look very hungry," in regards to photos of children in Gaza.

Following Thursday's protest, Pfleger is planning a letter writing campaign asking the Illinois state treasurer to no longer invest state funds in Israel.