Thousands gather outside White House to protest war in Gaza

CAIRO – June 9 2024: Thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered near the White House in Washington, D.C., urging President Joe Biden to cease all military aid to Israel and to call for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza.

According to The New York Times, protesters carried signs labeling Biden as a liar. Many demonstrators wore the red and green colors of the Palestinian flag as they marched towards the White House area. The protest stretched across two six-lane streets, forcing tourists away. There was a heavy police presence, and pepper spray was used on protesters at least once.

Biden was not at the White House on Saturday; he was in France on an official visit, where he attended a formal dinner with President Emmanuel Macron. However, the opposition voices in Washington highlighted the challenges Biden currently faces as he tries to support Israel's right to self-defense while calling for a quick end to hostilities.

Pro-Palestine activists outside the White House, who have been highly critical of Biden's response to the war, form a crucial part of his base, comprising young and non-white voters.

They urged these groups to reconsider their support for Biden ahead of the upcoming presidential election in the fall. Nas Isa, spokesperson for the Palestinian Youth Movement and one of the left-leaning groups that organized Saturday's protests, stated, "There is no world in which I can confidently vote for Biden," adding that unless the president changes course and holds Netanyahu and the Israeli government accountable, it would be unconscionable for anyone with a conscience to vote for him.