A man from Skokie, Illinois, named Zevulen Ebert has been charged with hate crimes and aggravated battery after allegedly pepper spraying pro-Palestinian protesters near an Israel solidarity rally over the weekend. Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx's office has charged Ebert with two felony counts of aggravated battery and two felony hate crime charges. The use of pepper spray can cause irritation to the eyes, a burning sensation, and difficulty breathing.

The incident occurred when approximately 1,000 people were gathered at a banquet hall in a northern Chicago suburb to show solidarity with Israel. Several hundred pro-Palestinian demonstrators rallied outside the event. According to Hatem Abudayyeh, organizer of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, the pro-Palestinian protest was concluding when a gunshot was heard. Shortly after, Ebert allegedly pepper sprayed attendees, causing panic and fear among the crowd.

Ebert appeared in court on Wednesday and was released with conditions by Judge Anthony Calabrese. Due to recent changes in Illinois law, cash bail is no longer required for pretrial release. Instead, judges must assess the risk of releasing defendants charged with serious crimes. Ebert was deemed to be low-risk.

During the incident, a Chicago police officer and two other individuals sustained minor injuries from the pepper spray. This event adds to a series of concerning incidents occurring during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. These incidents include the fatal stabbing of a Palestinian-American child in Illinois, a gun pointed at protesters in Pennsylvania, vandalism at synagogues, and harassment of staff at a Palestinian restaurant. These occurrences have raised fears that the war is inciting violence in the United States and leading to increased crimes against Jewish and Muslim communities.

Ebert's lawyer, Hal Garfinkel, expressed satisfaction that pretrial detention was not pursued and claimed that the decision shows the prosecution will struggle to meet the burden of proof in court. Prosecutors allege that Ebert targeted the protesters based on his perception of their ancestry, pepper sprayed them, made offensive gestures, and accused Palestinians of killing babies.

Another individual who fired a gunshot during the protest will also not face charges, as officials have determined that he acted in self-defense when surrounded and attacked by some of the protesters. Hatem Abudayyeh criticized this decision, calling it a "travesty of justice" and expressing concern for the safety of Palestinian communities nationwide.

The banquet hall event was organized by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights group based in Los Angeles. Alison Pure-Slovin, director of the group's Midwest regional office, abstained from commenting on the hate crime charges until the investigation concludes.

Furthermore, no charges will be filed against the man who fired a gunshot into the air near the pro-Palestinian demonstrators, as it has been determined that he acted in self-defense. Witnesses reported that the man drove his car towards the group and fired a shot into the air before being taken into custody by the police. The man's car was reportedly adorned with Israeli flags. The Cook County State's Attorney's office stated that the man possesses a valid firearm owner's ID card and concealed carry license and has no criminal record.

Additionally, another individual exited the banquet hall wearing an Israeli flag as a cape and pepper sprayed the crowd before being arrested. No serious injuries were reported, but several protesters, a Chicago police officer, and a reporter from the Sun-Times were affected. The state's attorney's office has not confirmed whether charges will be filed against this individual.

Hatem Abudayyeh, national chair of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, expressed frustration with the lack of charges against the man who pepper sprayed the attendees. He accused pro-Israeli political leaders of exacerbating tensions and allowing people to act with impunity. Abudayyeh, who is Palestinian American, expressed concern for the safety of Palestinian communities throughout the country.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center organized the banquet hall event and stated that it had no direct knowledge of the shooter's intentions. The group aimed to bring the community together peacefully but expressed disappointment that pro-Palestinian demonstrators obstructed access to the event.

Incidents like these have raised concerns about the potential for violence driven by antisemitic or Islamophobic sentiments as the conflict between Israel and Hamas persists. In Minneapolis, witnesses reported that a vehicle drove through a rally in support of Palestinians in Gaza, and a hostile driver threatened protesters with a car and a box cutter. The police are currently investigating the incident.

The rally in Skokie occurred shortly after a landlord in Plainfield, Illinois, was charged with a hate crime for fatally stabbing a 6-year-old Muslim boy and seriously injuring his mother. The landlord singled out the victims based on their faith as a response to the ongoing conflict.