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Hundreds of pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered in New York outside a fundraising event for US President Joe Biden's election campaign, in the presence of former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, in protest against his policies supporting the Israeli war on Gaza.
After Biden and Obama arrived on Air Force One on Thursday afternoon, they participated with Clinton in a discussion moderated by “The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert at the famous Radio City Music Hall in front of thousands of attendees. Organizers say the event raised more than $25 million for Biden's election campaign for a second term.
But the event was punctuated by protests inside the huge hall, where some stood up at several different moments and shouted, criticizing Biden's support for Israel in the Gaza war, which claimed the lives of more than 30,000 Palestinians.
“Shame on you, Joe Biden,” someone shouted.
Obama and Clinton presented their view of the Gaza crisis from the perspective of being former presidents, saying that "the president must be able to support Israel, while striving for the Palestinians to have more food, medical supplies, and a future state."
Before the event, the motorcade of the three leaders passed hundreds of demonstrators rejecting Israel's war in Gaza, in another indication that some young voters and other progressives who voted for Biden in 2020 are angry about his strong support for Israel.
Similar situation
Two days ago, Biden was exposed to a similar situation, as pro-Palestine demonstrators interrupted his speech in North Carolina as part of his election campaign, demanding the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip.
While Biden was speaking about the importance of health care, one of the demonstrators shouted, “What about health care in Gaza?” Biden responded by saying: “Everyone deserves health care.”
The demonstrators pointed out that hospitals in Gaza were being bombed, and chanted slogans such as “You are complicit in the crime of genocide” and demanded an immediate ceasefire. After stopping speaking for a while after that, Biden said: “They are right, we have to provide more health assistance to Gaza.”
Biden (81 years old) faces concerns about his age and fitness as he seeks to win a second 4-year term.
Recent opinion polls conducted by Reuters/Ipsos show his support rate at 40% in a close race with former President Donald Trump (77 years old) before the elections scheduled for November 5.
Source: Al Jazeera + Reuters