Hundreds Gather at Pro-Israel Rally Downtown

Hundreds rally at Thompson Center

Hundreds of Israeli supporters gathered for a downtown rally on Tuesday.

The location of the "Chicago Community Stands With Israel Solidarity Rally" at the James R. Thompson Center was moved to accommodate an expected large turnout.

The demonstration comes on the same day that President Barack Obama dispatched Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the Middle East in an effort to mediate an end to the escalating violence between Israel and Hamas.

Tensions are high after an Israeli air strike killed Hamas's top military leader, Ahmed al-Jabari.

On Monday, a pro-Palestine rally was held in Chicago's Loop.

The week-long conflict has killed more than 100 Palestinians and three Israelis, and although the U.S. has publicly stated that Israel has a right to defend itself, the Obama administration has cautioned its ally against escalating the violence with a ground assault.

Demonstrators were urged to wear blue and white and to bring Israeli flags.

A truce is possible as soon as Tuesday, according to Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi who said that Israeli "aggression on Gaza would end today."

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