As U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House, a powerful and vocal protest erupted outside, with hundreds of demonstrators chanting slogans such as “Palestine is not for sale” and “Free Palestine.” The protesters voiced their opposition to Donald Trump’s controversial plans for Gaza, where he had earlier called for the ethnic cleansing of the region and the “ownership” of the territory by the United States. The mass demonstration was a response to Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit and Donald Trump’s recent call for the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
The protest, which took place on a Tuesday evening, drew hundreds of individuals who gathered in front of the White House in Washington, D.C. They demanded that the Donald Trump administration cease supplying weapons to Israel and stop supporting policies that, according to critics, promote violence and atrocities against the Palestinian people. Among the chants was a sharp denunciation of Israeli military actions, with protesters particularly enraged by the Israeli-led offensive in Gaza that has claimed thousands of Palestinian lives since October 2023.
Michael Schirtzer, an activist who took part in the protest, condemned the idea of U.S. tax dollars funding the ongoing violence. “Americans do not want their tax money used to kill Palestinians,” he stated, calling Donald Trump’s comments on Gaza as “insane.” Schirtzer, alongside other protesters, emphasized the deep historical and cultural ties of the Palestinian people to the land, arguing that their displacement would amount to colonization.
Earlier, Donald Trump had suggested that Palestinians would “love” to leave Gaza if given the chance, reiterating his plan to displace the population permanently. His remarks, made during a joint press conference with Benjamin Netanyahu, were widely criticized by human rights groups and Arab states who decried the proposal as an attempt at ethnic cleansing. Donald Trump, however, stood by his statement, declaring that the United States would “take over Gaza” after its depopulation and “own it,” further fueling global outrage.
Among the protesters, 24-year-old Iranian-American demonstrator Sofia Ahmad could not hide her disgust at Donald Trump’s call for mass displacement. “He’s a fascist, a psychopath, a narcissist,” she said. “But it’s still important to show up here.” Ahmad was particularly vocal in condemning Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him a fugitive from justice who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes in Gaza. “He’s the architect of a literal genocide,” she stated, referring to Netanyahu’s role in the military operations that have resulted in the deaths of nearly 62,000 Palestinians.
The rally included various visual statements, such as a “wanted” poster with Benjamin Netanyahu’s face projected on a hotel overlooking the White House. Protesters also waved Palestinian flags and displayed signs denouncing U.S. military aid to Israel. One such sign read, “Pay for housing, not genocide.” A woman dressed as the Statue of Liberty stood in the midst of the crowd as activists mimicked Israeli soldiers shackling and dragging her, symbolizing what they see as Israel’s oppression of Palestinians.
As the protest grew louder, Palestinian rights advocates held a press conference in the same vicinity, denouncing Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit and Donald Trump’s stance on the conflict. Osama Abuirshaid, executive director of American Muslims for Palestine, urged Donald Trump not to be manipulated by Benjamin Netanyahu and called for a shift in the U.S.-Israel relationship. He stated that Donald Trump had a “golden opportunity” to reshape U.S. foreign policy and put an end to Israel’s violent actions in Gaza.
Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the antiwar group Code Pink, echoed similar sentiments, stating that Donald Trump could be a force for peace if he chose to prioritize diplomacy over warfare. “Will he go the road of the warmongers or will he listen to the voice of the people?” Benjamin asked, referring to widespread calls for a ceasefire and an end to U.S. arms shipments to Israel.
While some at the conference adopted a more conciliatory tone, recognizing Donald Trump’s promise to bring peace to the Middle East, they made it clear that his support for Benjamin Netanyahu was deeply troubling. Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), acknowledged the power of the U.S. president to bring about positive change but reiterated that Trump’s call for the displacement of Palestinians was unacceptable. “Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people,” Awad said, emphasizing that Trump’s proposal was “an absolute non-starter.”
The protest and the statements by various activists reflect the deepening divisions over U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, especially with regard to Gaza and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu continue to push forward with their controversial plans, the global outcry grows louder, with increasing calls for justice and peace in the region.
