Protesters at the Washington Pro-Palestinian March criticize Biden for the Israel-Hamas War
On Saturday, thousands of demonstrators in the US capital denounced President Joe Biden’s backing of Washington’s principal Middle East partner and demanded a ceasefire in Gaza in the face of Israel’s ceaseless bombing onslaught.
It was the biggest demonstration in Washington since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, with participants waving Palestinian flags and donning the traditional keffiyeh scarf. The demonstrators chanted, “Free, free Palestine,” and “End the siege on Gaza now.”
Other chants that called out the US president included “We say no, Genocide Joe” and “Biden, Biden you can’t hide, you signed off on genocide.” “We cannot consider this a proportionate conflict and it is unacceptable to allow for the loss of so many innocent lives,” Virginian Amanda Eisenhour, 24, said.
This is a genocide, a slaughter. a blot on our past, and I find it unacceptable that my money are supporting this as a citizen. The 25-year-old Jasmine Iman, who traveled from New York to see the demonstration, said she would not support Joe Biden in the next presidential contest due to his unwavering support for Israel. “We refuse to cast a Democratic Party ballot. We’ll make sure that everyone we know is aware that the Democratic Party is not a good choice because of (Gaza),” the woman said.
A year from now, Biden, 80, and 77-year-old Republican former president Donald Trump are expected to square off in a near dead draw according to surveys. “I’ll sit it out” if it comes down to a decision between Biden and Trump in the election, Iman said.
On Saturday, fighting broke out in Gaza for the 29th day in a row since Hamas terrorists broke over the Israeli border, killing over 1,400 people—mostly civilians—and kidnapping over 240 more. Israel has been bombarding the Gaza Strip nonstop since then and has also put in ground forces. In the Palestinian region controlled by Hamas, the health ministry reports that 9,488 individuals have died, with women and children making up over two thirds of the total.
