BOISE, Idaho — Boise drivers noticed a change in their Monday morning commute when three new billboards popped up overnight to share a single message:
"Let's be clear: Hamas is your problem too"
The billboards are made possible through a partnership between JewBelong, a nonprofit advocating for Jewish people, and the Idaho Israel Alliance (IIA). The billboards are a response to the documented rise of antisemitism across the United States since Hamas attacked Israel in October 7th, according to IIA founder Dan Berger.
"It's one thing to be pro-Palestinian, but it's another thing to be anti-Israel. And that's where I get really uncomfortable," Berger said. "Palestinians are not the problem, I believe in a two-state solution... And I think that vilifying an entire people for what Hamas did is not fair."
The October 7th attack killed 1,200 Israelis. Since, Israel has killed 33,000 people according to local health officials. Freelance American journalist Zach Anders is covering the war from Tel Aviv; he previously covered Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"Generations of Israelis have now served and fought and defended their country against neighbors and enemies who have wanted to destroy them," Anders told KTVB. "And what we're seeing here is an indiscriminate campaign in certain ways to target Hamas and eliminate Hamas fighters."
That indiscriminate campaign has mistakes; Anders reports on the innocent lives lost. These situations are often the center of pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the United States. However, Anders knows war to be nuanced.
"Palestinians and Israelis have been picked last, just to make a simple analogy, in a lot of ways," Anders said. "I don't know where I land on it politically, I really don't. And the more time that you spend here, seeing and speaking to both sides, the harder it is to come to a conclusion."
Iran openly attacked Israel soil starting Saturday to break the ice on an ongoing proxy conflict. This attack is a direct escalation on the current war with Hamas.
"[October 7th] is so much different than what Iran sent the other night," Anders said. "They're powered at launch. So, they get way up into the atmosphere and then they essentially take that momentum and just drop on their targets. The window to intercept a ballistic missile is a lot tighter."
But back home in America - in Idaho - Berger and the IIA just want peace.
"[Innocent lives lost] breaks my heart," Berger said. "As soon as [Hamas] put their arms down, and as soon as [Hamas] releases the hostages, this war will be over."
The billboards are scheduled to stay up through May 12th, according to IIA. They can be found at the following locations:
- I-84 & Broadway Exit
- Federal Way & Amity Rd
- Fairview Ave. & Allumbaugh St.
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