Source Credit: AL JAZEERA
In Washington, DC, the atmosphere was heavy with sorrow and anger as hundreds of people gathered outside the White House. Their protest was a heartfelt rejection of President Trump’s call to forcibly remove Palestinians from Gaza—a plan that many believe will only bring more pain and loss. The demonstrators, standing together with tearful determination, chanted, “Palestine is not for sale,” their voices echoing a deep sense of grief over the suffering of a people they see as being treated like a commodity.
The protest came as President Trump, during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reiterated his controversial idea that the United States should “own” Gaza after it is emptied of its people. Trump’s harsh words, calling for the displacement of an entire population, have struck a deep chord with those who remember the ongoing hardships in Gaza—a land already scarred by violence and loss.
Among the crowd was Michael Schirtzer, an activist who spoke with a trembling voice. He argued that American tax dollars should never be used to support policies that would lead to further bloodshed. “The people of Palestine are the true inhabitants of that land,” he said. “They will not leave; their hearts and history are tied to this soil.” His words resonated with many who have seen their communities suffer under policies they call unjust.
Another protester, Sofia Ahmad, a young Iranian American, expressed her deep disappointment and pain. “It is disgusting that a man who calls himself a leader could support such inhuman ideas,” she said, her eyes filled with tears. Sofia described Trump as a symbol of cruelty, while also condemning Netanyahu, whom she labeled a war criminal for his actions in Gaza. She reminded everyone that the Palestinian people have already lost too much, and that the idea of forcing them to leave is a wound that could never heal.
As the protest continued, vivid images were shared among the crowd—“wanted” posters featuring Netanyahu’s face, signs reading “Pay for housing, not genocide,” and flags that cried out for freedom and justice. The protesters’ message was clear: they stood in mourning for the lives lost and the ongoing hardships, and they demanded that leaders stop the cycle of violence that has left a deep scar on the land of Palestine.
At a news conference held nearby, Palestinian rights advocates spoke with heavy hearts about the injustice they see. Osama Abuirshaid urged President Trump not to be manipulated by those who do not have the best interests of peace at heart. He reminded everyone that peace must be built on respect for human life and dignity, not on displacement and violence.
Later, a statement from Nihad Awad of the Council on American-Islamic Relations reinforced the collective grief and rejection of Trump’s plan. “Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people, not to any foreign power,” he said. His words, spoken softly but firmly, echoed the shared sentiment of a community that has endured too much suffering.
In this moment of protest and pain, the voices of the people in Washington rose as a solemn reminder that behind every political statement lie the shattered lives of those who have lost their homes and their hope. The protest was not just against a policy, but against the deep sorrow of a people who have been forced to watch their land and their dreams crumble.
