Black Israelites, Pro-Palestine Marchers Clash in Chicago

( MSN )

Chicago police had to break up fighting that broke out Saturday between a group of Black Israelites and pro-Palestinian marchers who had gathered by the thousands to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The Chicago Tribune covered the march, which took over parts of the Loop.

Black Hebrew Israelites espouse that African Americans are the true descendants of the ancient Israelites, not the Jewish people. A fringe sect, they tend to convene in cities near heavily trafficked tourist areas to share their beliefs, often with the help of bullhorns and PA systems.

Video from Saturday's clash shows pro-Palestinians and Black Israelites physically fighting. Some of the Black Israelites are seen wielding wooden sticks, while the pro-Palestinian crowd brandished flag poles.

Video

Both sides were seen throwing punches and wildly swinging the sticks and poles, swatting each other.

Chicago police struggle to get the situation under control but eventually manage to corral both sides on opposite sides of the street. Officers on bicycles are seen in the footage forming lines with their bikes, trying to prevent either side from crossing over.

Both sides are seen in footage shared on Reddit tossing bottles and other projectiles at each other.

Insults were hurled from both sides, as were rude hand gestures. The marchers continued down the street, and the shouted threats only intensified.

It was unclear Monday if anyone was seriously injured in the confrontation or if any of the participants were arrested.

Israel declared war on Hamas in the wake of the Oct. 7 Black Saturday attacks that killed hundreds of the country's citizens. At least 8,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in the last 24 days, according to the Hamas-run Palestinian Ministry of Health.