In a remarkable display of dissent, staff members of President Biden held a candlelight vigil outside the White House on Wednesday, calling for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Palestine.
The group, maintaining anonymity behind masks and sunglasses, used the occasion to express their disapproval of the administration's stance on the issue.
The vigil was marked by the participants arranging candles to spell out "ceasefire," and carrying signs that stated, "President Biden, Your Staff Demands a Ceasefire," as reported by CNN.
Josh Paul, a former State Department official who resigned over the administration's handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, addressed the gathering. He stated, "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 emphasized the need for a permanent solution, saying, "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."
He also read a statement from the event organizers, which demanded that President Biden and his Cabinet members call for a permanent ceasefire, release of all hostages, and immediate de-escalation.
The conflict took a drastic turn when Hamas launched a pre-dawn attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in the death of over a thousand Israeli civilians. This incident, the most brutal terrorist attack since 1973, has led to a surge in demands from far-left activists for Israel to cease its defense against the Palestinian terror group. The Biden administration has faced criticism from Democrats for its unwavering support for Israel and its reluctance to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Last month, anti-Israel protesters marched through Washington, DC, defacing monuments and vandalizing White House property. Protesters attempted to breach White House security and chanted "Intifada," using red paint to symbolize President Biden's "blood on his hands."
According to One America News, over 700 political appointees and personnel from more than thirty different departments and agencies, including the FBI and NASA, have signed a letter urging President Biden to support a ceasefire in the conflict.
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