Hundreds protest for Gaza held in front of US State Department

As a part of a global call for action around the world on Thursday, 9 November, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated in front of the US State Department in downtown Washington, DC, to demand a ceasefire of Israel's bombing of Gaza.

The events for Shut It Down for Palestine took place at around 100 locations in towns and cities across the US and many more around the world. The actions included demonstrations at political institutions, closures of Arab-owned businesses, walk-outs at schools and universities, sit-ins at different institutions, and marches in solidarity with Gaza.

"We are encouraging a complete shutdown of business as usual," Zaid, an organiser who asked to use only his first name, told The New Arab. He described the demonstration as provoking in him a "sense of mixed emotions" because of the circumstances of what had brought people out, but also feeling heartened by the growing support.

The gatherings took place just over a month after the surprise attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October, killing more than 1,400 Israelis, which Israel has responded to with relentless bombings of Gaza, killing more than 10,000 Palestinians. 

At around 4 pm, pro-Palestinian demonstrators began gathering at the four corners of the State Department building, ready to speak out once the employees left at the end of the workday. 

As the sun set and light rain fell, demonstrators continued to chant: "Free Palestine; Blinken, Blinken, you can't hide, we charge you with genocide; and ceasefire now."

Also, in Washington, the Museum of the Palestinian People held a vigil for those mourning the lives lost in the conflict.

On the same day, the State Department held a press briefing on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. 

On a conference call with journalists on Thursday, US Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues David Satterfield said that there have been improvements in bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza.

"Three weeks ago, we had no fuel accessible to the UN implementers in the south.  Fuel is now available from within Gaza for their use for desalination plants, for provision to hospitals in the south and centre, and for the movements of the UN implementers themselves, and we are working to make certain that there will be further fuel available for the UN – UNRWA, the ICRC, World Food Program – as this moves ahead," the ambassador said in his opening remarks.

He added that they had also been focused on trying to secure the exit of US nationals from Gaza.

One journalist asked the ambassador about the future of Gazans in Gaza, to which Satterfield responded that he didn't foresee any permanent displacement of Gazans from the ongoing conflict. He noted that they continue to believe that the two-state solution is the future for Palestinians and Israelis.

Activists say they will continue their protests as long as Israel's bombing of Gaza continues.