Leftist protesters outside US embassy office in Tel Aviv rail against Trump, ‘genocide in Gaza’

Left-wing protesters rally against the war in Gaza outside the US embassy branch office in Tel Aviv, during the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, January 20, 2025. (Noam Lehmann/ The Times of Israel)
Left-wing protesters rally against the war in Gaza outside the US embassy branch office in Tel Aviv, during the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, January 20, 2025. (Noam Lehmann/ The Times of Israel)

About 20 leftist protesters rally outside the US embassy branch office in Tel Aviv to demand an end to the war in Gaza, as Donald Trump is sworn into office.

The location is symbolic, as the facility served as the US embassy until Trump moved it to Jerusalem, during his first term. An announcement of the left-wing protests defiantly gives the location as “US embassy.”

“Trump, Trump, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide,” the protesters chant in English, echoing a chant regularly heard at anti-Israel rallies in the United States.

And in Hebrew: “Settlers, thieves, get out of Palestine now.”

A roughly equal number of bystanders gather, who are at first bemused before becoming indignant.

“You’re a murderer and a rapist,” yells one at a protester.

“God bless our soldiers, shame on you,” says another.

Young girls hastily make and hold up paper signs reading. “Only Bibi,” referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

MK Ofer Cassif, of the far-left Hadash party, speaks through a megaphone, at times drowned out by the impromptu counter-protest.

“Today is a difficult day,” he says. “The president was sworn in today.”

“Contrary to how he is portrayed, he’s actually pursuing war,” claims Cassif.

“He wants American dominance,” continues the lawmaker. “He also wants us to be a puppet regime.”

“We won’t give him the genocide in Gaza,” says Cassif.

Assailing the phased Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, which went into effect yesterday, Cassid demands a complete end to the war and freedom for both Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners.

Asked whether Trump deserved a good word for the pressure he reportedly applied on Netanyahu to make the deal, Cassif tells The Times of Israel: “I can’t say a good word about Trump. The deal could have been reached a long time ago and it would have saved a lot of people.”

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