White House Staffers Organize Rare Protest in Opposition to Biden’s Israel Policy

In an unexpected show of disagreement, a group of White House employees gathered on the sidewalk in front of the White House to express their opposition to President Joe Biden’s position on the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The protest, occurring on a cold Wednesday evening, saw government workers openly challenging the administration’s foreign policy decisions.

The employees, holding a banner that read, “President Biden, your staff demands a ceasefire,” demanded an immediate end to the hostilities that had resumed after a temporary ceasefire. Their protest highlighted the deep divisions within the party regarding the United States’ approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

@WhiteHouse staffers sympathetic to #Hamas & the #IranDeal, protest against President Biden @POTUS “for not imposing a ceasefire” in #Gaza, showing instantly the depth of #Iranregime influence inside the top building in the nation.

To many Americans, this is troubling. pic.twitter.com/4SnsCkyai5

— Walid Phares (@WalidPhares) December 14, 2023

Participants at the vigil expressed shock at the renewed violence in Gaza, which involved killings, displacement, and bombardment of Palestinian civilians. They stressed the need to save lives through an immediate and permanent ceasefire agreement, as well as the release of all hostages.

The protest showcased a growing division within the Democratic Party, with pro-Hamas and pro-Israel factions competing for influence. While the Biden administration has provided Israel with arms and diplomatic support, it has also faced internal pressure to restrain Israel’s military actions and increase humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Wow! Biden staffers hold a vigil outside of the White House to protest… Biden and his policy on Gaza!! https://t.co/iYcwK3PnBQ

— Trita Parsi (@tparsi) December 14, 2023

Critics of the protest argue that calling for a ceasefire without disarming Hamas would leave the terrorist organization in control of Gaza, armed and holding hostages – an outcome that Israel deems unacceptable. The Israeli government has insisted that it will not cease its operations until all hostages are released and Hamas surrenders.

The visual impact of the demonstration was powerful, with many staffers dressed in black, some with keffiyehs wrapped around their heads. Candles were arranged on the sidewalk to spell out “Ceasefire,” a poignant symbol of their plea for peace.

The demonstration was carefully planned, with a graphic circulated earlier in the day advising participants on how to avoid identification. This precautionary measure mirrored similar tactics employed by pro-Hamas Congressional staffers who staged a demonstration in front of the Capitol last month.

This public display of dissent from within the ranks of the Biden administration emphasizes the heated debate over U.S. involvement in Middle Eastern affairs. It raises questions about the coherence of the current administration’s foreign policy and its ability to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape of the region.

As the night came to an end, the candles went out, but the message from the White House employees remained clear: there is a significant faction within the government that is deeply dissatisfied with the current direction of U.S. policy in the Middle East, and they are willing to take a stand, even if it means protesting against their own administration.