Advocates gathered outside the White House in Washington, DC, to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. The emotional vigil included speakers like Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib and actors Cynthia Nixon and Denee Benton, who read the names of Palestinians killed in the conflict. Despite their efforts, the list of more than 15,000 victims was barely touched upon.
The activists warned that without a permanent ceasefire, the number of casualties would only continue to rise. They emphasized that a temporary pause in fighting was not enough.
Congresswoman Tlaib, the only Palestinian American member of Congress, criticized the White House for not supporting the ceasefire and instead seeking funding for Israel’s war effort. She called on President Joe Biden to listen to the demands for a ceasefire, which are backed by the majority of Americans and an overwhelming majority of Democrats.
Congresswoman Cori Bush, who introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives demanding a ceasefire, noted that the campaign for a ceasefire was making progress. More than 40 lawmakers have called for a ceasefire in Gaza, up from the initial 13 cosponsors of the resolution.
The war on Gaza began after Hamas launched an attack on Israel, leading to a deadly conflict that has displaced over a million Palestinians and prompted UN experts to warn of a “grave risk of genocide.” A temporary truce was reached but is set to expire on Thursday.
Outside the White House, Congressman Jamaal Bowman and Congressman Jonathan Jackson expressed their outrage at the ongoing violence and called for a ceasefire to end the suffering of innocent people.