Nearly two dozen federal, state and city elected officials rallied at New York's City Hall on Monday to show their support for Israel and its right to self-defense.

"We are here today to stand with Israel. Standing with Israel means that we also stand with peace, we stand with freedom, we stand with democracy, but most importantly, we stand with life," said Michael Miller, executive vice president and CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. "Israel has been attacked by Hamas in Gaza. Close to 1,000 rockets and mortars have fallen on Israeli cities directed towards Israeli citizens to kill Israeli citizens over the past week since Israel launched its operation this past Tuesday. We are standing here to say that we as New Yorkers stand with Israel's desire to live in peace within its neighborhood of the Middle East, and to be accepted."

Miller was joined by U.S. Congressmen and women Eliot Engel, Nita Lowey, Carolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler, Charles Rangel, and a dozen City Council members, state senators and assembly members.

Since the conflict began, nearly 1,000 rockets have been fired at Israel, "causing some injuries and damage to property, but no fatalities among Israelis," according to The Association Press.

On the other hand, the United Nations estimates that at least 178 people have died in Gaza since the attacks began July 7. Eighty percent of the dead were civilians, of whom 21 percent were children. Over 1,300 Palestinians have been wounded, nearly half of them women or children. More than 1,200 homes have reportedly been severely damaged or destroyed, some 400,000 people are without electricity. Seventeen thousand people are displaced, and 25,300 children are traumatized, and in need of psychological care.

The crisis in Israel and Gaza follows months of growing tensions, with both sides debating when the latest outbreak began. Three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped in the West Bank in June, their dead bodies found weeks later. During that time, Israel launched massive raids, killing around a dozen people, arresting hundreds and seizing property. Israel particularly targeted Hamas, whom it blamed for the teens' kidnapping.

"This dispute is not about territory," Ambassador Ido Aharoni, Israel's consul general in New York, told reporters at City Hall. "Make no mistake, Hamas has no strategy. They are firing rockets against civilians, hundreds of rockets in the last eight days with no real strategic goal in mind. Hamas is not interested in Palestinian statehood. Hamas is not interested in the two-state solution. Hamas is not interested in a better life for its citizens. This event has attracted some people that have a different view. They surround us right now. To them I would ask what is it that Hamas is offering you and your children? What is it that Hamas is trying to promote? The answer, of course, is Islamic rule and a desire to drag us all back to the dark ages. We will not apologize for the right to defend ourselves."

Nearly 100 pro-Palestinian protesters held a counter-demonstration outside the City Hall gates, chanting, "Shame on you City Council. They do not speak for us," and, "When people are occupied, resistance is justified."

The counter-rally -- comprising a coalition of groups, including the International Action Center and Al-Awda NY -- at times drowned out the speakers at City Hall. One of the counter-rally demonstrators was Sarah Aly, who said, "Clearly the events of the past week where you have 174 people killed -- it calls for someone to come out and say something."

Aly, president of Students for Justice in Palestine at Brooklyn College, said, "I think it is very hypocritical. A year ago at Brooklyn College, Students for Justice in Palestine wanted to host Omar Barghouti, leading activist with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement. Ten City Council members signed this letter [saying] that they were threatening funding for the college because of the event we had. It is very hypocritical of them to choose sides when they are supposed to be representing all ... New Yorkers; they are concerned with domestic affairs and city affairs with representing their constituents, not with commenting on foreign affairs, especially when a lot of people in the city, there is a large Palestinian-[American] presence in the city and people of conscience who support the Palestinian cause, and for them to go and speak on behalf of all of their constituents and say we stand with Israel when so many don't stand with Israel, I don't know who gave them the right to speak on our behalf because I for one don't stand for Israel."