From the Liveblog of
Saturday, November 4, 2023
In Washington, Palestinian supporters call for ‘intifada’ against Israel
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
Some 10,000 people have descended on Freedom Plaza near the White House for what Washington’s largest pro-Palestinian protest in years.
Demonstrators at the rally are chanting slogans such as “Free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea Palestine will be free.”
In a call and response, a woman can be heard saying into a microphone “Long live the intifada,” to which the crowd responds, “Intifada, intifada, intifada.”
While there is a great deal of anger among participants, there are no reports of violence or clashes with local law enforcement securing the rally.
Speakers are also calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and accusing Israel of carrying out a “genocide” in the Hamas-run enclave.
The speakers also express their major frustration with US President Joe Biden over his support for Israel and warn that it will cost him their votes in the next presidential election.
It’s unclear where such voters would turn though, given that the Republican party’s approach to the conflict is further out of step with their own and nearly a dozen GOP lawmakers have introduced dead-on-arrival legislation seeking to expel Palestinians from the US.
“Long live the Intifada! Intifada! Intifada!”
Thousands are out here from hundreds of different cities and organizations in Washington DC to participate in the Free Palestine March. pic.twitter.com/bVjvEX8223
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) November 4, 2023
