Emergency rally for Rafah near White House draws hundreds

Hundreds of protesters gathered near the White House for “an emergency rally in support of Rafah” Tuesday evening, following a weekend of intensive bombing of the small enclave by Israel.

About 400 people of different affiliations and backgrounds gathered at short notice to protest what was once seen as a “red line” for Joe Biden's administration – what appears to be the first steps in a large-scale ground invasion of Rafah, which is currently taking place. growing global condemnation.

“Don’t touch Rafah now!” ” a man holding a megaphone chanted repeatedly, as a growing crowd in front of the White House echoed his words, while drums beat in sync with the chant.

It was one of several protests in the United States in response to recent Israeli airstrikes on Rafah, part of the nearly eight-month-old Gaza war that has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians. , mostly women and children.

“It is really important that we are here almost eight months after the start of this genocide, after the recent Rafah massacres, to continue to pressure the Biden administration to withdraw its support and complicity in the genocide that we are witnessing in Gaza,” Yusuf (using only his first name), an organizer with the Palestinian Youth Movement, said. The new Arabic.

“It was really heartwarming to see so many people come together, especially after all these months, for emergency action in response to what happened. Especially with all the tragedy and loss, to see that people “They are always energetic and always have the fight in them,” said Yusuf, whose family in Gaza was displaced, having lost their homes and most of their belongings to Israeli strikes.

Nearby was Hector Alcala, standing in front of the White House fence, holding a sign reading Ceasefire Now with a photo of a seriously injured Palestinian baby who had lost several family members in the Israeli attack on Gaza. Alcala was there as part of the Vigil for Palestine, a small group that has been gathering daily near the White House for two months.

“We stand in front of the White House to show our objection to genocide and all policies that enable it. And we demand this, because we know he can do it just by picking up the damn phone and calling [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and let him know that he will not have our support. But unfortunately he chose not to,” he said. TNA.

“I have seen what is happening in the media, like millions of people, and I am disgusted that our government chooses to support this. I do not like that my tax dollars allow this,” he said. -he declares.

“I also think it's our duty to do something, because a lot of people say: just vote. Well, the vote won't happen until November. The genocide is happening now. We have to do something now to end a problem that exists now,” he said, still standing outside the White House after most of the crowd had left, as the sun set.

After about two hours of chanting and protesting, Yusuf seemed more determined than ever that their message would not be in vain.

He said: “We will continue to press for a ceasefire, for an end to American complicity in this genocide and for an end to the occupation. »

That evening, reports began to emerge that Israeli tanks were advancing toward central Rafah in the early hours of the morning local time, a step in the war that many feared, likely including Biden, who will now have to determine whether this still represents a red line.