Protesters oppose Biden war policy in large pro-Palestinian rally in Washington By Reuters

By Elizabeth Frantz and Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Hundreds of protesters gathered in Washington on Saturday to demand a ceasefire in Gaza the place 1000’s have been killed in an Israeli offensive since an assault by Palestinian Islamists Hamas, and to denounce President Joe Biden’s coverage in the direction of the battle.

Protesters carried placards with slogans reminiscent of “Palestinian Lives Matter,” “Let Gaza Stay” and “Their blood is in in your palms,” because the U.S. authorities continued to reject calls for so as to add its voice to requires a blanket ceasefire.

Activists known as the deliberate protest a “Nationwide March on Washington: Free Palestine” and arranged buses to the U.S. capital from throughout the nation for demonstrators to attend, stated coalition group ANSWER, an acronym for “Act Now to Cease Battle and Finish Racism.”

“What we wish and what we demand is a ceasefire now,” stated Mahdi Bray, nationwide director of the American Muslim Alliance.

The demonstration was among the many largest pro-Palestinian gatherings in america and among the many largest for any trigger in Washington lately.

Crowds started gathering at Freedom Plaza close to the White Home within the afternoon earlier than the protest began with a second of silence as demonstrators held up a big poster with names of Palestinians killed since Israel’s huge retaliation started.

The deep-rooted Israeli-Palestinian battle reignited on Oct. 7 when scores of fighters from Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, crossed into Israel, killing at the least 1,400 individuals.

Israel has since struck Gaza from the air, imposed a siege and launched a floor assault, stirring world alarm at humanitarian situations within the enclave. Gaza well being officers stated at the least 9,488 Palestinians had been killed as of Saturday.

The rising variety of civilian deaths has intensified worldwide requires a ceasefire, however Washington, like Israel, has to this point dismissed them, saying a halt will give Hamas likelihood to regroup.

A gaggle of impartial United Nations specialists has additionally known as for a humanitarian ceasefire, saying time was operating out for Palestinians there who’re at “grave threat of genocide”.

“Biden, Biden you can’t disguise, you signed up for genocide,” protesters chanted in Washington on Saturday.

Washington has sought to influence Israel to just accept localized pauses, which Israel has up to now rejected.