Published January 14,2024
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Tens of hundreds of individuals gathered Saturday in Washington DC for a march and rally to demand a cease-fire within the Gaza Strip and an finish to US navy help to Israel.
The rally, organized by the American Muslim Task Force on Palestine, ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and Racism), began with remarks from Americans whose households have been killed in Gaza.
Alaa Hussein Ali, from the state of Michigan, mentioned he misplaced 100 relations, together with greater than 60 kids, in Gaza in what he known as a “genocide.”
He mentioned his brother went searching for water for a “dangerous trip” from the north to the south of Gaza, however by no means got here again as he was killed by an Israeli sniper.
“He was shot several times in his chest. And he was found five days later in one of the hospitals in Gaza,” he mentioned.
Adam, who’s a Palestinian-American pharmacist from Gaza, mentioned he misplaced greater than 100 relations, together with his father, within the Israeli offensive.
“Israel killed a man who loved life, loved peace, loved people, loved nature. And most of all, he loved his grandkids,” he mentioned.
“The tale of each family member who was murdered is a testimony of ongoing genocide of my Palestinian people,” he mentioned. “President Biden can easily put a stop to this genocide.”
“He can easily pick up the phone and call Israel to stop this madness,” he added.
The crowd chanted: “Free Palestine”, “Ceasefire Now”, and “End the occupation” whereas holding indicators that learn: “End the war on Gaza” and “Let Gaza Live.”
The rally continued with speeches from distinguished activists, group leaders and celebrities earlier than protesters marched by way of the streets of the US capital.
Al Jazeera’s bureau chief in Gaza, Wael al-Dahdouh, whose spouse, daughter, two sons and a grandchild have been killed in Israeli assaults, was amongst these addressing the gang by way of video hyperlink, along with US presidential candidates Cornel West and Jill Stein, and Ilyasah Shabazz, who’s the daughter of Malcolm X.
Noting that 112 journalists and photographers have been killed in airstrikes within the final three months, al-Dahdouh mentioned the quantity has not been seen in some other battle, together with the 20 years of the Vietnamese battle.
“It would seem that the Israeli occupation does not like us to do our duty to the fullest,” he mentioned. “We guarantee you that we will persist in carrying this message, and in fulfilling this duty.”
One of the organizers, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), mentioned Friday that it despatched a letter to US President Joe Biden and urged him to “stop supporting the Israeli government’s war crimes in Gaza.” It warned that his coverage on Gaza has “severely” broken his relationship with Muslim communities.
More than 23,800 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in Israel’s relentless air and floor assaults on the Gaza Strip since a Hamas’ Oct. 7 cross-border assault, in keeping with well being authorities in Gaza. About 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed within the preliminary Hamas assault.
Israel’s navy marketing campaign has additionally induced mass displacement, destruction and starvation with a whole lot of hundreds of residents residing with out shelter.
Israel is accused of the “crimes of genocide” towards Palestinians within the Gaza Strip because the International Court of Justice in The Hague held public hearings Thursday and Friday as a part of the start of a case filed final month by South Africa.
Source: www.anews.com.tr