Watch: Biden supporters heckle protesters displaying 'Stop Arming Israel' sign at DNC

A section of protesters at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago on Monday (Aug 19) unfurled a banner that said "Stop Arming Israel" as President Joe Biden addressed the gathering.

Video of the incident has gone viral on social media and shows the Democrats nearby not quite receptive to the anti-war stance displayed by the protesters. Some of them could be seen hitting the demonstratorswith their “We love Joe” signs while others tried to rip the banner away from them.

Watch: Video footage of the demonstrators showing the "StopArming Israel" sign

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One of the alleged protesters who held the banner took to X (formerly Twitter) and claimed they infiltrated the DNC despite authorities delisting those in favour of a ceasefire.

"Here's the sign we made. We penetrated their tightly controlled, hermetically sealed Hollywood coronation show, despite them delisting and intimidating ceasefire delegates," said the protester.

During the speech, Biden highlighted the final bridging proposal that the US had submitted to Israel and Hamas, much to an applause from the DNC crowd.

“We are working around the clock to reunite hostages with their families and surge humanitarian help and food assistance into Gaza now. To end civilian suffering of the Palestinian people and finally, finally, deliver a ceasefire and end this war,” said Biden.

The president then acknowledged the thousands of anti-Israel protesters who demonstrated outside the convention centre by stating "They have a point".

"A lot of innocent people are being killed on both sides,” he added.

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Democrats under scrutiny

The Biden administration has come under heavy scrutiny for its handling of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. For months, large-scale protests across the country have taken place, including on Ivy League campuses over the White House's policy on the war.

Washington is the biggest supplier of arms and ammunition to Israel and recently approved a $20 billion weapons package for the West Asian country.

According to the Pentagon, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken approved the sale of more than 50 F-15 jets and equipment worth nearly $19 billion including $774 million in tank cartridges, $60 million in explosive mortar cartridges and army vehicles worth $583 million. However, the deliveries of the said equipment would not begin for years.

Since the start of the war, the US has sent Israel more than 10,000 highly destructive 2,000-pound bombs and thousands of Hellfire missiles.

(With inputs from agencies)