Stop U.S. aid to Israel, a protest of Palestinians against the Israeli army’s response to the Gaza terrorist attack on Saturday
The U.S. has given billions in military aid to Israel for years. President Biden last month asked Congress for more than $14 billion in military aid for Israel.
Israel rejected such a pause, saying any sort of cease-fire is contingent on the release of hostages. There was an Israeli airstrike on the ambulance near the main hospital in Gaza. Palestinians said more than a dozen people were killed in the strike; Israel’s military said the target of the bombing was Hamas, whose members Israel says have been using sensitive sites for cover.
U.S. officials have so far stopped short of demands for a cease-fire, but pressed Israel on Friday for a “humanitarian pause” in its military offensive to allow more aid to enter Gaza and for the release of the more than 200 hostages being held by Hamas.
He says his stance questioning Israel’s leadership has caused a split between his family and friends. Kremer, who pushed his baby in a stroller during the march, said there’s no difference between the value of his son’s life or that of a child living in Gaza.
Pedro is raised Jewish in Argentina and now lives outside of D.C. He claims he was taught by his Jewish ancestors that they wanted justice for everyone.
Protesters went to the streets of Washington and other cities on Saturday to protest the scale of Israel’s response to the terrorist assault in Gaza.
The pro-Palestinian groups organize the event that began with a rally at Freedom Plaza and culminated in a march past the White House.
Some protesters on the edges of the demonstration sat on a ledge outside the White House Visitor Center, their message to President Biden clear. Their signs read, “Stop U.S. military aid to Israel.” He said, ‘You lost my vote.’
Nour Jaghama, a Palestinian who works for the anti-war organization Code Pink asked the crowd why they can hear the words and stories from Gaza yet the genocide still continues. Why do only 18 representatives and only one senator support a cease-fire?”
Protesters at Saturday’s rally held a moment of silence for those who were killed in Israel’s response offensive. More than 9,480 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s military attacks over the last four weeks, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Israel intensified it’s ground offensive in the northern part of the Gaza Strip after the militant group Hamas launched a series of attacks that killed 1,400 people.
Barkouch: Demonstrating for the United States, for the Rights of the American People and for the Future of the United Nations – The End of World War II
The event drew supporters from cities across the country, selling out bus seats for many departure points including Portland, Maine; Boston; Columbus, Ohio; Miami; and at least 10 buses from New York City.
Younass BarkOUCH came from Jersey City, NJ to attend the march. He said he is protesting first and foremost for the United States while his family is from Morocco.
I was raised to believe that the United States was against atrocities and war crimes. Regardless of who committed them,” he said.
Rana hoped that Joe Biden saw what he’s Losing, as the unity is amazing with so many Americans coming out. He is going to lose the vote if he doesn’t do anything to stop this.
She said they all voted for him for equality. “And if he doesn’t give everybody that right, then he’s hopefully not going to be our next president.”
A week after massive protests in Asia and Europe, marches were held Saturday in New York, Nashville, Cincinnati, Las Vegas and San Francisco, calling for cease-fire and lifting of the siege.
The Palestinians in Washington, the World War I Memorial, and the Museum of the Palestinian People in a Crowded Demonstration
84 percent of voters said that they were worried that the United States would be drawn into the Middle East conflict, according to a survey released by Quinnipiac University. Nonetheless, a 51 percent majority supported sending more military aid to Israel for their campaign against Hamas, and 71 percent supported humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
The demonstrations on Saturday were poised to reflect the constellation of causes and groups that have long connected themselves to Palestinian politics, including student organizations, labor unions and antiwar campaigns.
The number of attendees in Washington was not clear Saturday, but the streets were filled with demonstrators and the crowd was dense. Some of the areas were rowdy while others were more tranquil.
At one spot, a man wearing a Palestinian flag as a cape climbed up a traffic light and yelled, “Free, free Palestine!” to a drumbeat down below. A group of peaceful protesters sitting quietly at the World War I Memorial held up signs and waved flags while chanting and cheering at Freedom Plaza.
Washington was thought to be a hub of protest. As police and dump trucks blocked Pennsylvania Avenue, protesters streaming into Freedom Plaza were formed at the Museum of the Palestinian People less than a mile away.