WASHINGTON, D.C. – Pro-Palestinian demonstrators clashed with riot police outside the White House on Saturday night, causing a reinforced fence to become partially dislodged. The aggressive protest, which included chants of “f–k Joe Biden,” prompted the evacuation of non-essential personnel as a precaution. The Secret Service confirmed that the fence sustained some temporary damage, but the White House itself was left untouched.
Video footage shows the crowd violently shaking the fence while police officers push back to prevent them from entering the grounds. Some protesters threw water bottles and portions of their Palestinian flags at the officers, while others attempted to climb over the fence. Despite the tension, no arrests were made.
The demonstration, which took place in the nation’s capital, was the culmination of a larger march calling for an end to Israeli military action in Gaza. Thousands of protesters participated in the rally, carrying signs with messages such as “No votes for Genocide Joe” and “Biden has blood on his hands.” They criticized President Biden for his support of Israel, including a recent “emergency sale” of tank ammunition worth $106 million.
The focus of the rally was the high death toll in Gaza, where more than 23,800 people have been killed over the course of 100 days of Israeli counter-offensive attacks. According to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory, nearly two-thirds of the casualties were women and children. The Israeli government declared war in response to an October 7 attack by Hamas, in which 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and 250 were taken hostage.
During the protest outside the White House, demonstrators chanted slogans calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The Secret Service had anticipated the demonstration and erected the reinforced fence earlier in the day. While the fence sustained some damage, it was promptly repaired by Secret Service support teams.
Overall, the protest outside the White House highlighted the contentious issue of Israeli military action in Gaza and its impact on the region. It also underscored the ongoing debate over the United States’ support for Israel.