By Amna Khalafalla

March 12, 2026

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Rittenhouse Square Park on Monday evening to march against the joint U.S.–Israel military attacks on Iran. The protest was organized by the Philly Palestine Coalition and was met by a group of counter–protestors, including Iranians, in support of the military actions against Iran.

Coordinated attacks began on Feb. 28, as the U.S. and Israel struck multiple sites across Iran. The same day, Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been killed. Among the reported deaths were dozens of senior military leaders and hundreds of civilians. One of the deadliest incidents occurred at a girls’ primary school in Minab, Iran, where 165 children and adults were killed by a U.S. missile strike.

Since Feb. 28, the death toll has risen to thousands.

Democratic members of Congress from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware have criticized the administration’s actions, arguing that Americans do not want another war, while many Republican lawmakers in the region have voiced support for President Trump. The attacks are also a polarizing topic among voters, with a growing majority of Americans disapproving of the operation, according to polls.

Two Iranian American protesters — one in support of the attacks on Iran and one opposing them — face off during the march.

Madison, 26, an independent photojournalist and longtime resident of Philadelphia, said she attended the protest both to document the demonstration and to express her opposition.

“I am here because I am a photojournalist, but I always say if I didn't have a camera, I would be out here supporting anyways. I do not support the war. It is inherently wrong.”

Demonstrators at Monday’s march were also protesting the Israeli–led attacks on Lebanon, which began on March 2. The strikes have resulted in around 600 deaths to date, and 800,000 have been displaced as residents continue to flee attacks in the country’s south and the southern suburbs of Beirut targeting the Iran–backed group Hezbollah.

A protester, Marta, holds a Workers World Party sign denouncing the war.

Protesting with the Philly Palestine Coalition was Marta, 78, a lifelong Philadelphian.

"I am here today because my country, which gave my grandparents refuge, is now bombing every place in the world where people need safety, for profit. They started with Gaza almost three years ago. They couldn't be stopped with rational argument, by appeals to morality or justice.”

A protester waves an “RIP Aaron Busnell” flag. Bushnell, a member of the U.S. Air Force, set himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington D.C. in 2024 to protest the genocide in Gaza.

It was an emotional protest for Juliana, 28 (not pictured).

"I am Lebanese, and I have been emotional for the past several years because of everything that has been going on. But with the most recent renewal of the aggression, I have never seen so many of my friends and family displaced at once. It is so upsetting and distressing that it is making me sick. Honestly, at this point, I am out of words... The exhaustion from watching the war start off over and over again… I wish I had something more hopeful to say."

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Amna Khalafalla is a Sudanese American, Philadelphia-raised photo documentarian with a background in international development. She is currently working on a long-term project documenting Philadelphia’s community of Sudanese activists and is an Al-Bustan Journalism Fellow.

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