Staffers and appointees of President Joe Biden’s administration held a vigil in front of the White House on Wednesday to demand that the president call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
More than three dozen people, most donning sunglasses and masks to conceal their identities, participated in the evening vigil, according to media reports.
Former State Department official turned activist Josh Paul, who resigned in October over the Biden administration’s approach to the Israel-Hamas war, addressed the crowd during the demonstration in Washington, D.C.
An activist lays flowers during a demonstration calling for a ceasefire amid the Hamas-Israel war, in front of the White House in Washington, DC on December 13, 2023.
Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP/Getty
Newsweek reached out via email on Wednesday night to Biden’s representatives for comment.
“The temporary ceasefire ended 13 days ago, and we have been horrified to see the full resumption of killings, displacement and bombardment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza,” Paul said during prepared remarks he made on behalf of the vigil attendees. “A temporary pause to this violence was never enough. We must move with urgency to save as many lives as possible and achieve an immediate, permanent ceasefire agreement and the return of all hostages.”
The number of Palestinian civilian casualties has sparked accusations of Israeli war crimes. Numerous videos and images of suffering in Gaza, which is home to roughly 2.3 million people, have ignited demands by many for a ceasefire.
Former State Department official turned activist Josh Paul (center) calls for a ceasefire amid the Hamas-Israel war, in front of the White House during a vigil on December 13, 2023.
Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP/Getty
Reuters foreign policy reporter Hümeyra Pamuk shared a photo from the event on X, formerly Twitter.
“Dozens of Biden administration staffers hold a vigil outside the White House, calling for a ceasefire,” Pamuk posted on X. “‘The temporary ceasefire ended 13 days ago, and we are horrified to see the full resumption of killings, displacement and bombardment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.'”
NOW: Dozens of Biden administration staffers hold a vigil outside the White House, calling for a ceasefire.
“The temporary ceasefire ended 13 days ago, and we are horrified to see the full resumption of killings, displacement and bombardment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.” pic.twitter.com/6A7gT90IRV
— Hümeyra Pamuk (@humeyra_pamuk) December 13, 2023
On October 7, Hamas militants led a surprise attack on Israel and Israeli Prime Minister has said that his nation is “at war.” The U.S. has continued to supply Israel with military and humanitarian aid and others have encouraged Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire. The October 7 attack left at least 1,200 Israel citizens dead, the Associated Press reported.
Hamas-controlled government authorities in Gaza say that at least 24,500 civilians have been killed, including those missing under the rubble, a number that the international humanitarian community accepts as valid.
As the death toll in Gaza climbs, the Israeli government faces mounting scrutiny.
Biden addressed the topic at a campaign fundraising event in Washington on Tuesday where he said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is “starting to lose support” from the international community and that changes need to be made considering the mounting death toll in Gaza.
The president said that Netanyahu’s government “is making it very difficult for the world” to continue backing Israel.
The vigil outside the White House calling for an end to the violence was met with mixed reactions on social media.
Foreign policy analyst Mitchell Plitnick posted on X that the protest was “historic.”
“This is unprecedented as far as I know,” Plitnick said in the post. “It is, in fact, historic. Biden staffers organized a vigil outside the #WhiteHouse calling on their boss to call for a ceasefire. Wow! And to the staffers, thank you so much!”
This is unprecedented as far as I know. It is, in fact, historic. Biden staffers organized a vigil outside the #WhiteHouse calling on their boss to call for a ceasefire.
Wow!
And to the staffers, thank you so much! pic.twitter.com/652mq8yz96
— Mitchell Plitnick 🔥🕎 (@MJPlitnick) December 14, 2023
X user Salina Reddy also described the event as “unprecedented.”
“In an unprecedented event, Biden staffers organized a vigil outside the #WhiteHouse calling on Biden to call for a ceasefire,” Reddy said in the post.
Nicholas Sandmann, who was featured in a 2019 viral video allegedly engaging in a stand-off with a Native American activist, weighed in on the White House staffers protesting.
I don’t care if you’re left, right, or center on this issue,” Sandmann said in the post. “Nobody voted for White House staffers. If you dislike the current policies that much then quit.”
I don’t care if you’re left, right, or center on this issue. Nobody voted for White House staffers. If you dislike the current policies that much then quit. https://t.co/HzfebgVDX8
— Nicholas Sandmann (@N1ckSandmann) December 14, 2023
Defense attorney Marina Medvin said in an X post that a ceasefire would “benefit Hamas.”
“Biden’s administration has said countless times that a ceasefire only benefits Hamas. Biden’s admins know this,” posted on X. “Yet they ask for a ceasefire… in order to benefit Hamas. What does that tell you about who works in our White House.”
Biden’s administration has said countless times that a ceasefire only benefits Hamas. Biden’s admins know this. Yet they ask for a ceasefire… in order to benefit Hamas. What does that tell you about who works in our White House. pic.twitter.com/U6CcN3Qw3g
— Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) December 14, 2023
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