Protesters put up giant Palestinian flag at venue of Biden's White House event

Outside the venuewhere President Joe Biden was supposed to speak at the yearly White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner, pro-Palestinian protestors gathered to protestIsrael's ongoing military actions in Gaza.

On Saturday night (April 27), they stood outside the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington D.C., showing their disagreement with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Inside the hotel, members of the press,and politicians were coming together for the event celebrating press freedom. One most striking thing at the protest was a big Palestinian flag hanging down the side of the hotel.

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A Palestinian flag has been deployed from the top floor of the Washington Hilton hotel where the White Hoise correspondents dinner is taking place. #WHCD #Gaza pic.twitter.com/h0QMUdjafH — Adam Eidinger (@aeidinger) April 27, 2024

The conflict began when the Palestinian militant group Hamas initiated an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in 1,200 casualties and over 200 hostages.

Over the course of the nearly seven-month-long war, the Palestinian death toll has exceeded 34,000, with more than 76,000 peoplesustaining injuries, according tothe Associated Press reports, citing information from the Gaza Health Ministry. While the ministry, controlled by Hamas, does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its tally, it states that at least two-thirds of the casualties have been children and women.

The escalating death toll, along with disturbingimages of children found deceased amidst the wreckage of bombed structures, has intensified demands for a ceasefire and heightened pressure on President Biden to adopt a more assertive stance towards Israel, a longstanding ally of the United States.

The pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the WHCA dinner coincides with protests erupting at college campuses nationwide, leading to numerous arrests.

Also watch |Israel-Hamas war: US starts building Gaza aid pier to boost deliveries

Footage circulated on social media showed demonstrators in D.C. directing chants towards Biden's motorcade and those attending the event as they entered the hotel.

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(With inputs from agencies)