Protesters oppose Biden war policy in pro-Palestinian rally in Washington

Thousands of protesters gathered in Washington yesterday to demand a ceasefire in Gaza, and to denounce President Joe Biden's policy towards the war.

Protesters carried placards with slogans such as "Palestinian Lives Matter," "Let Gaza Live" and "Their blood is in on your hands," as the US government continued to reject demands to add its voice to calls for a blanket ceasefire.

Activists called the planned protest a "National March on Washington: Free Palestine" and organised buses to the US capital from across the country for demonstrators to attend, said coalition group ANSWER, an acronym for "Act Now to Stop War and End Racism."

"What we want and what we demand is a ceasefire now," said Mahdi Bray, national director of the American Muslim Alliance.

The demonstration was among the largest pro-Palestinian gatherings in the United States and among the biggest for any cause in Washington in recent years.