On Saturday, Nov. 4, tens of thousands of people gathered at Freedom Plaza in D.C. to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes and a siege have killed more than 10,000 Palestinians – the majority of them women and children.

Israel’s bombardment of Gaza began in response to an attack from Hamas militants on Oct. 7 that killed at least 1,400 people. More than 200 others were taken hostage – most of whom are still being held captive.

Some humanitarian groups and world leaders have called for a ceasefire. The Biden administration has pushed for a “humanitarian pause” that it says would allow for aid into Gaza and for civilians to evacuate while preventing Hamas militants from regrouping. Israel, however, has rejected calls for a pause or ceasefire until all of its hostages have been released.

Several pro-Palestinian groups organized this weekend’s demonstration, which included a march near the White House, to urge the Biden administration to call for a ceasefire, with many others also demanding an end to funding for Israel.

The anti-war protest drew people from all over the country and the D.C. region.

All of the attendees that DCist/WAMU spoke to at the march expressed support for a cease-fire.

“How could I not [come]? This is the human rights catastrophe of our generation. I can’t imagine being anywhere else,” said Makani Themba, who came from Jackson, Miss. to be at the demonstration with her “chosen family” – including Ditra Edwards of Providence, R.I., and Brigette Rouson, who lives in D.C.

“We have been in solidarity with Palestinian people for years and years and years,” said Rouson, a faith-based activist who attends services at the Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ.

Rouson said her church has previously hosted speakers from Gaza and that she has spent a lot of time learning about the history of Black solidarity with Palestinians. “What I’m hoping for is liberation for Palestine and oppressed people the world over.”

Jasmine Neshawat, who is half Palestinian and half Jordanian, said she drove in from Columbia, Md. with a group of friends.

“It doesn’t matter really where you’re from,” said Neshawat. “If you have any sense of [morals] or anything – like people are just dying. It’s just wrong. All of it’s wrong.”

As a Palestinian, Neshawat said it makes her sad that what’s unfolding – along with the decades of conflict – has prevented her family from getting in touch with their roots.

“I was born here. But my mom, she was born there. And they actually had to flee the city in the back of a dump truck. So, I’ll never get to really see that country or see where my mom was from and everything. And it’ll always just kind of be a question mark or something I have to always just read about.”

Although it’s been a difficult time for her, Neshawat said she was touched to see so many people there in support of Gaza. Still, she said, there’s work to be done.

“First and foremost, a cease-fire,” said Neshawat. “Some aid to go into there, of course. And then, eventually, just a long-term solution for everyone to live peacefully together.

Jinan Deena, a local chef and longtime activist in D.C., said she had an obligation as a Palestinian-American to join the call for a ceasefire. She also said that the U.S. should stop funding Israel’s defense with tax-payer dollars that could be better spent domestically.

“We just continue to send this money overseas and making us complicit in this genocide that’s happening,” said Deena, who runs the food pop-up, Bayti. “It kills me on the inside to know that any of my money could be going to harm anyone in this world right now. And as people of conscience, we need to be able to stand up and speak out against these injustices.”

For the past few weeks, Deena has also been organizing food pop-up events alongside other Palestinian chefs to directly benefit humanitarian aid in Gaza. “It’s a reminder that at the base of this lies humanity – human beings. People that have an entire culture, music, and food and clothing,” said Deena.

“Beyond the atrocities, Palestinians are not just victims. It’s a culture that’s very rich. It’s got a lot of heritage and a lot of roots all across the world. And we just need to make sure that people remember that.”

Syed Jehangeerali, who is Pakistani and lives in D.C., said it’s important to recognize the decades of history that led to this most recent conflict, including what he called the “neo-imperialism” that Palestinians have been subjected to.

“This is not just going on today or for this month, it’s been going on for 75-plus years. So first they took their recipes, then they took their culture, and now they’re taking their homes and their land,” said Jehangeerali.

Jehangeerali said that he works in humanitarian aid and that his own sense of “basic humanity” is what drew him out to the demonstration. “This is against any international United Nations laws of what is going on, and the world is turning a blind eye to it.”

Rafa Jara, who lives in D.C., said he was at the demonstration in support of “human dignity.” While he said he is okay with funding Israel, he said there needs to be “humanitarian guarantees” along with it, which he believes elected officials in the U.S. can work towards.

“Realistically, I understand that Israel is a United States ally and that we have a tradition between our two countries. But if we are friends, friends tell each other the truth. Our money gives us leverage and we should use that leverage for good,” said Jara.

Another D.C. local, Medea Benjamin, said she’s completely opposed to the U.S. funding Israel – including a recent $14 billion that was approved by the House of Representatives last week. “I’m horrified by what’s happening in Gaza and what Israel is doing and what our government is doing,” said Benjamin, who is Jewish.

“And I just say, ‘no.’ I don’t want any more children to be killed on any side. And the fact that there’s over 3000 babies in Gaza who have been killed – and more killed every day – we can’t allow this to happen. This is a genocide that’s happening in our time.”