Jewish Man Dies After Confrontation at Pro-Israel and Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations: Paul Kessler, 69, Identified as Victim

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Jewish Man Dies After Altercation at Pro-Israel and Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations in Thousand Oaks

A tragic incident unfolded in Thousand Oaks over the weekend, as a Jewish man lost his life following an altercation at competing pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The incident occurred at the intersection of Westlake Boulevard and Thousand Oaks Boulevard, where both demonstrations were taking place. Authorities from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department received reports of a battery at around 3:20 p.m. on Sunday.

The victim, identified as 69-year-old Paul Kessler from Thousand Oaks, sustained a severe head injury after falling backward and hitting his head on the ground during the physical altercation with one or more counter-protesters. Witness accounts, as well as the findings of the Ventura County Medical Examiner, have confirmed that Kessler’s death was a homicide caused by a blunt-force head injury.

While the exact details of the confrontation are yet to be confirmed by the sheriff’s department, the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles has stated that Kessler was struck in the head by a megaphone wielded by a pro-Palestinian demonstrator. However, the authorities are planning a news conference on Tuesday to provide official information and clarify the incident.

Rabbi Michael Barclay of Temple Ner Simcha in Westlake Village, located near Thousand Oaks, has urged the public to refrain from jumping to conclusions regarding the incident. In a social media post, he mentioned that conflicting reports exist about what transpired and that the suspect identified in social media posts has been interviewed by the police. However, no video evidence has been obtained thus far. Barclay emphasized the importance of caution and avoiding any actions that could escalate the situation further.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has sparked protests worldwide since last month. While Hamas militants have faced condemnation for invading Israel and causing the death and abduction of civilians, Israel has been accused of indiscriminate bombing resulting in the loss of numerous civilian lives in Gaza.

As the investigation into the incident continues, no additional information has been made available at this time. However, authorities are working diligently to gather all the necessary facts surrounding the tragic event.

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The Associated Press has contributed to this report.

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