ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – We're hearing from local Jewish leaders and Palestinian advocacy groups about the ongoing Israel/Hamas war. Both leaders with Rochester Witness for Palestine and the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester tell News 8 they are shocked this war is still going on with, what they describe as, no end in sight. Today marks one year since Hamas attacked and murdered around 1,200 Israeli citizens and took more than 200 people captive, including 40 Americans. About 100 hostages remain in Gaza. The resulting war has left much of the Palestinian territory destroyed, taken thousands of lives, and left a humanitarian crisis in its wake. last week the Biden administration said it was sending a few thousand additional U.S. troops to the Middle East in hopes of deterring a broader conflict there. Both local groups we spoke with say they appreciate local allies. Mindy Shaffer, the convener at RWP says reaching out to local leaders is helpful. "Our position and our feelings haven't changed at all," said Shaffer, "our sympathies go to the people who have been affected — mostly for our Palestinian brothers and sisters, but also for the Israeli people who have suffered as well. Because we want justice and peace for everyone in Israel." Monica Gebell, the Executive Director of the Levine Center to End Hate, says being an ally requires listening to each other — no matter the community you support. "Nobody expected that we would still be in this situation with 101 hostages, seven of them American, still in Gaza," she said, "that innocent people are still dying. That now there is a war from the North raging — it's escalated and here we are on the cusp of the high holidays." Both groups are hosting events in the near future to educate and commemorate. RWP will have its annual film festival and the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester is hosting a day of remembrance tonight.