Chanting slogans like “War criminal!” and “Shame!” the protesters expressed their disapproval as President Joe Biden’s motorcade arrived. Biden, accompanied by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, was at the venue to deliver his final foreign policy speech, reflecting on his administration’s legacy.
The demonstrators carried banners with messages such as “Biden’s Policy is Genocide,” “Speak Up, Shout Out, Use Your Power,” “Israel Kills,” and “Stop Arming Israel With My Tax $$.”
Security measures were heightened around the State Department during the protest.
Criticism of the Biden administration’s stance on the Gaza conflict has intensified in recent months. The administration has been under fire for its continued support of Israel despite mounting casualties in Gaza, where over 46,500 Palestinians—most of them women and children—have reportedly been killed since October 7, 2023.
Israel has faced increasing international legal scrutiny for its actions in Gaza. In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
The protest highlighted growing public dissent in the United States against the administration’s Middle East policy and its implications for human rights in Gaza. (ILKHA)