PHOTOS: Palestine and Israel supporters clash in Tampa over the weekend

While the violent conflict between Israel and Hamas intensified over the weekend, in Florida, hundreds of pro-Palestine supporters clashed with pro-Israel backers at a rally in Tampa Bay's Temple Terrace.

On Sunday afternoon, a large group of roughly two hundred pro-Palestine supporters occupied a Boston Market parking lot near the intersection of 56th Street and Fowler Avenue.

Ali Abdel-Qader, of the Tampa Bay Branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, spoke at the event and called for the U.S. to end its support of Israel.

"We are resisting from the belly of the beast, from the heart of the U.S. empire. We are saying no more money for Israel's crimes," said Abdel-Qader over a megaphone. "We are saying no more support for Israel on the international stage, we are saying no more support for Israel at the U.N. And we are saying no to the more than $8 billion that the U.S. has approved to go to Israel."

The planned rally drew a smaller group of pro-Israeli counter-protesters, who gathered at a Taco Bell across the street.

Video footage from Creative Loafing Tampa Bay's photographer Dave Decker shows a chaotic scene, with heated exchanges and a few physical clashes between the groups.

Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the Temple Terrace Police Department, the USF Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol, responded to the rally.

At around 4 p.m., law enforcement declared the event an unlawful assembly.

According to WFLA, at least two arrests were made (one from each group), and multiple injuries were reported.

Hassan Shibly, who provides legal services for the Tampa Palestinian community, posted to X  (formerly known as Twitter), claiming that his client was punched in the face, resulting in a broken eye socket.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor released a statement Sunday morning, offering her support for Israel and the local Jewish community, stating that the city has increased security at synagogues and Jewish Community Centers.

"We are devastated for Israel and our Jewish community — and stand in solidarity against the terrorist attack that occurred this weekend," said Castor. "I have been in touch with our Jewish community leaders to relay that we have heightened security at all synagogues and Jewish community centers. We will remain vigilant in our support of Israel and in keeping our Tampa community safe."

Later that day, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis denounced the Tampa area rally and a similar event in Fort Lauderdale, calling both events "abhorrent."

“The rallies in Tampa and Ft. Lauderdale supporting Hamas are abhorrent,” wrote DeSantis wrote on X.  “Hamas is a terrorist group that is dedicated to the destruction of Israel and committing atrocities to further that end.”

This story first appeared in our sister publication Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.