Pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets outside the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington D.C. on Saturday night, demonstrating against the ongoing war in Gaza. The demonstration coincided with the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, an event that brings together members of the press corps, celebrities, and politicians. During the protest, a large Palestinian flag was unfurled from the side of the hotel, symbolizing solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The war in Gaza, which began after a Palestinian militant group launched an attack on southern Israel in October 2023, has resulted in thousands of casualties and widespread devastation. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the Palestinian death toll has surpassed 34,000, with more than 76,000 wounded. The war has sparked widespread criticism and calls for a ceasefire, and the pro-Palestinian rally outside the WHCA dinner is part of a broader movement calling for increased pressure on Israel to end its offensive.
Earlier this month, more than two dozen journalists in Gaza wrote a letter published by Medium that urged members of the press corps to boycott the historic event. The letter states, “As Palestinian journalists, we urgently appeal to you, our colleagues globally, with a demand for immediate and unwavering action against the Biden administration’s ongoing complicity in the systematic slaughter and persecution of journalists in Gaza.”
The pro-Palestinian rally outside the WHCA dinner is a reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
