Thousands rally in Washington as Israel's deadly offensive on Gaza nears first year mark

By Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - More than 3,000 pro-Palestinian protestors gathered Saturday near the White House to protest Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip and bombing campaign in Lebanon.

The rally at Lafayette Park later turned into a march through the streets of the US capital with protesters demanding an end to the genocide against Palestinians and urging the American government to halt arms transfers to Israel.

Chanting “Free Palestine” and carrying signs that read: “End all US aid to Israel, stop the Genocide” and “Stand with Palestine, End the Occupation Now,” protesters demanded an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the women-led peace group, CODEPINK, emphasized the growing demand for action from the US.

“The public opinion polls show that people not only want a cease-fire, they want to stop sending weapons to Israel, and the region is just blowing up, and we don't want any nice words anymore. We want action, and action means stop sending weapons,” she told Anadolu.

She criticized US support for Israel's genocide in Gaza.

"I think it's time for the US officials to wake up and realize that this path is only leading to more death and destruction, and it's not in the national interest of the United States,” she said. “I think that not only Israel lost its way and lost any kind of sympathy that they might have had on Oct. 7. Now they're a country that's hated by people all around the world. I'm a Jewish person. This is not good for Jews, and it's not good for the United States, because people around the world know the role that the US is playing.”

Benjamin also warned of Israel's operations in Lebanon and the potential for attacks against Iran. “We’ve got to stop Israel in Lebanon, and we really have to stop Israel from doing what it wants to do in Iran, which is attack Iran's nuclear facilities, attack Iran's oil facilities,” she added.

Anti-war activist Carrie Muniak echoed the call for immediate action and urged US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to halt arms supplies to Israel.

“What is happening to the innocent civilians of Palestine is genocide in every definition of the word,” Muniak told Anadolu.

She said by sending arms to Israel, the Biden administration is breaking the Leahy law, which requires the US to withhold military assistance from a foreign military or law enforcement units if there is credible evidence of human rights violations.

Liana Smith, a Jewish protester, expressed outrage about US support for "genocide" in Gaza and beyond, including in Lebanon, Yemen and Syria.

"As somebody who identifies as Jewish, I find it also appalling that this is being done in the name of Judaism. It has nothing to do with Jewish values. It has everything to do with Zionism and settler colonialism, and that's why we're here, because it's been one year and it has to stop," she said.