Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the White House in Washington on Saturday, demanding President Biden to halt all military aid to Israel and calling for an immediate cease-fire in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The protesters, mostly dressed in red and waving Palestinian flags, marched around the parkland where the White House is located, holding signs labeling Mr. Biden as a liar. The atmosphere was tense as the demonstrators spilled onto the surrounding boulevards, causing disruption to tourists and prompting a heavy police presence. At least one protester was reportedly pepper-sprayed by the U.S. Park Police.
While President Biden was in France for a state dinner with President Emmanuel Macron, the protesters in Washington highlighted the challenges he faces in balancing support for Israel’s defense against Hamas with calls for a quick end to the violence. The activists criticized the Biden administration’s response to the conflict and urged young and nonwhite voters to reconsider their support for the president in the upcoming election.
One of the protest organizers, Nas Issa, expressed her disappointment in Mr. Biden’s stance on the issue, questioning how anyone with a conscience could continue to support him without holding Israel accountable for its actions. The protesters also created a symbolic red line around the White House, representing the threshold for withholding weapons shipments to Israel if crossed by the Israeli military.
Despite the passionate demonstrations, the Biden administration has stated that recent Israeli strikes in Gaza did not meet the criteria for halting military aid. The protesters emphasized their demand for a freeze on all weapons shipments to Israel until the conflict is resolved, pointing out the billions of dollars in military aid the United States has committed to Israel.
As the protest continued into the afternoon, no arrests were reported, but statues in Lafayette Square were vandalized with messages supporting Palestine. Some chants from the protesters were criticized by Jewish groups for inciting violence, but one protester clarified that the slogans were meant to call for resistance against the current situation, not violence against Jewish people.
The diverse group of protesters, including individuals who traveled long distances to participate, demonstrated their solidarity with the Palestinian cause and their determination to hold President Biden accountable for his actions regarding the conflict in Gaza.
