Massive Protests in the US and Iran Demand End to Israel\'s Retaliation in Gaza

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Washington and other cities across America on Saturday to voice their opposition to Israel\'s escalating attacks in Gaza in response to last month\'s terrorist assault by Hamas. The protests, organized in cities such as New York, Nashville, Cincinnati, Las Vegas, and San Francisco, followed similar demonstrations in Asian and European capitals the previous week. While most Americans express support for Israel in its fight against Hamas, the increasing intensity of the attacks on Gaza has led to a surge in support for Palestinian civilians among US citizens.

According to a recent poll released by Quinnipiac University, 84 percent of voters expressed concerns about the United States becoming militarily involved in the Middle East conflict. However, a majority of 51 percent still supported sending more military aid to Israel for their campaign against Hamas, while 71 percent supported providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

The protests on Saturday reflected the diverse groups and causes that have long connected themselves to the Palestinian cause, including student organizations, labor unions, and anti-war campaigns. In Washington, the exact number of attendees was unclear, but the streets were filled with demonstrators, creating a dense crowd. Some areas of the rally were rowdy, with one man climbing up a traffic light while wearing a Palestinian flag as a cape and passionately shouting, "Free, free Palestine!" to the beat of a nearby drum. In contrast, a calmer segment of protesters sat quietly at the World War I Memorial, holding up signs and Palestinian flags, observing the scene at Freedom Plaza where chants and cheers filled the air.

A group of protesters situated on the edges of the demonstration took their message directly to the White House Visitor Center, their signs demanding President Biden to stop US military aid to Israel. One sign explicitly stated, "You lost my vote." Even before the protest officially began, many protesters raised their placards high, displaying messages such as "Mourn the dead, fight like hell for the living" and "Let Gaza live!" A coffin, draped with a Palestinian flag, rested on the ground near where a group of adults and children positioned themselves with another flag.

Meanwhile, in Tehran, Iran, thousands of protesters also rallied against the United States and Israel in support of Palestinians in Gaza. Demonstrators gathered in front of the former US embassy, chanting slogans such as "Down with USA" and "Down with Israel." They set fire to an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with US and Israeli flags. Black-clad women proudly displayed victory signs with their hands, painted over with Palestinian flags.

Tensions between Iran and the United States have further escalated since the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas gunmen, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and the capture of over 240 hostages. Israel has responded by launching intense bombardments on the Gaza Strip and deploying ground troops. The health ministry in Gaza, which is under Hamas control, reported that 9,488 people have been killed, with about two-thirds of them being women and children.

During the protests, Iran\'s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, praised Hamas\'s October 7 attack on Israel, labeling it as a "turning point" in history. He affirmed that the situation after the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation would never return to how it was, regardless of what the United States and Israel do. The demonstrations coincided with Iran\'s "day of the fight against global arrogance," which marks the day Iranians attacked the US embassy in Tehran in 1979 and held 52 American diplomats hostage for 444 days. The Iranian government has condemned Israel\'s bombardment of Gaza as “genocide” and criticized the strong support it receives from the United States.