Thousands of protesters gathered outside the White House to condemn Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit and US President Donald Trump’s call for forced displacement in Gaza. Demonstrators chanted “Free Palestine” and denounced Israeli atrocities, with many calling on Trump to stop supplying weapons to Israel.
Trump called for ethnically cleansing Gaza, stating that Palestinians would “love” to leave the territory if given a chance. However, protesters rejected this claim, saying that Palestinians are the indigenous people of that land and will not be displaced. The US president’s comments sparked widespread backlash from Arab states and rights groups, who see it as ethnic cleansing.
At the protest, demonstrators held signs denouncing US support for Israel and waved Palestinian flags. One woman dressed as the Statue of Liberty was seen being shackled by activists depicting Israeli officers, highlighting the intensity of the emotions surrounding the issue.
Human rights groups and United Nations experts have accused Israel of carrying out a genocide against Palestinians, with nearly 62,000 people killed since October 2023. The protesters are outraged that Netanyahu has been invited to Washington, DC, despite being wanted by the International Criminal Court for suspected war crimes in Gaza.
Despite the criticism, some speakers at a news conference struck a more conciliatory tone, appealing to Trump’s pledge to bring peace to the Middle East and pursue an “America First” agenda. However, most advocates have rejected this approach, saying that prioritizing US interests would dictate saying “no” to Netanyahu’s demands for more weapons and support for Israel.
The protesters’ message is clear: “Palestine is not for sale.” They demand that Trump and Netanyahu respect the rights of the Palestinian people and work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/5/as-trump-meets-netanyahu-protesters-chant-palestine-is-not-for-sale