A Call for Peace in Gaza

A call for a ceasefire marked the seventh day of Israel's unrelenting military action against Hamas militants but those in Lansing say peace won't come without fundamental change.

Walt Niewiadomski who recently spent time in West Bank says " the Israelis need to start recognizing that the Palestinians are a people who have equal rights to them and the Palestinians have as much a historical right to the land as the Israelis."

Protesters here say the Israeli embargo is inhumane, arguing that loved ones would be better off in prisons.

Ahmad Assaf says "in prison you have food, you have water you have light, they have no water, no food, no light they have nothing- even medicine, they don't have it!"

While encouraging a cease-fire the White House continues to argue that Israel has a right to defend itself but those here the U.S. is only perpetuating the problem

Niewiadomski says"our alliances with Israel and our blindness to the actions of Israel creates more violence in the middle east."

Showing us his handmade sign Ahmed Assaf reminds us that many of those killed in palestine are under the age of 15.

Assaf  says "personally I pray for peace but its hard for me to see the peace"

as people of all ages braved the cold today to cry for peace many acknowledged that they feel their efforts are in vain

Niewiadomski says "I dont see a ceasefire, if it does come it wont last because the basic conditions have not changed."

Many at Friday's vigil expressed concerns that the U.S. isn't doing enough to stop the fighting in Gaza- but even more said that incoming president Barack Obama gives them hope that peace may eventually  be made in the middle east.