WASHINGTON, Jan 14 — Tens of thousands of people gathered Saturday in Washington DC for a march and rally to demand a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and an end to United States military aid to Israel.
The rally, organised by the American Muslim Task Force on Palestine, Answer Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and Racism), started with remarks from Americans whose families have been killed in Gaza, Anadolu Agency reported.
The crowd chanted “free Palestine”, “ceasefire now”, and “end the occupation” while holding signs that read: “End the war on Gaza” and “Let Gaza Live.”
The rally continued with speeches from prominent activists, community leaders and celebrities before protesters marched through the streets of the US capital.
Al Jazeera bureau chief in Gaza, Wael al-Dahdouh, whose wife, daughter, two sons and a grandchild were killed in Israeli attacks, was among those addressing the crowd via video link, in addition to US presidential candidates Cornel West and Jill Stein, and Ilyasah Shabazz, who is the daughter of Malcolm X.
Noting that 112 journalists and photographers have been killed in airstrikes in the last three months, al-Dahdouh said the number has not been seen in any other war, including the 20 years of the Vietnamese war.
“It would seem that the Israeli occupation does not like us to do our duty to the fullest,” he said.
“We guarantee you that we will persist in carrying this message, and in fulfilling this duty.”
More than 23,800 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in Israel’s relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since Oct 7, according to health authorities in Gaza.
Israel’s military campaign has also caused mass displacement, destruction and hunger with hundreds of thousands of residents living without shelter.
Israel is accused of the “crimes of genocide” against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as the International Court of Justice in The Hague held public hearings Thursday and Friday as part of the beginning of a case filed last month by South Africa.
— Bernama
