Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

 

Biden Heckled and Interrupted by Pro-Palestinian Protesters, For his Support of the Israeli Killing  of 23,000 Palestinian Civilians, Mostly Women and Children

January 9, 2024

 

Biden heckled during a speech in a South Carolina church, for his support for the Israeli killing of more than 23,000 of Palestinians so far, 70% of them are  children and women, January 8, 2024
Biden heckled during a speech in a South Carolina church, for his support for the Israeli killing of more than 23,000 of Palestinians so far, 70% of them are children and women, January 8, 2024
Protestors against President Biden, chanting 'cease-fire now' as he was delivering a speech at Charleston, SC church, Monday, January 8, 2024

 

Biden Says He Wants Israel to Leave Gaza

Story by Thomas Kika  

Newsweek, January 9, 2024

President Joe Biden claimed on Monday to have been "quietly working" on getting Israel to "significantly" or completely withdraw from Gaza.

Israel has been engaged in heated conflict with Hamas since October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian (resistance) group carried out a surprise attack in the south of the country that killed roughly 1,200 people, according to the Associated Press. Since then, Israeli military strikes in the Gaza region have, in turn, killed over 20,000 people, the AP has also reported, leading to a significant international outcry for a ceasefire.

A staunch longtime ally of the Middle Eastern nation, the U.S. government has stood by the Israeli government throughout the attack and provided military aid, much to the consternation of pro-Palestinian voices. While Biden and White House officials have urged Israel to minimize the impact on civilians from its strikes in Gaza, they have stopped short of backing more than a temporary ceasefire, claiming that such a move would benefit Hamas.

The U.S. government was previously credited, along with Egypt and Qatar, in helping negotiate a temporary ceasefire in Gaza that ultimately lasted for a week in late November. During that time, 105 Israeli hostages taken by Hamas were released in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

On Monday, the president appeared at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, the site of a 2015 shooting by a white supremacist gunman that killed nine people. During his address, he was interrupted by pro-Palestinian demonstrators, with one woman, according to The Hill, shouting, "If you really care about the lives lost here, then you should honor the lives lost and call for a ceasefire in Palestine."

In response, Biden said that he had been working to negotiate a significant de-escalation of Israel's attacks on Gaza.

"I understand their passion," the president said. "And I've been quietly working with the Israeli government to get them to reduce and significantly get out of Gaza" (while giving the Israeli all of the weapons and money they want, to kill as many Palestinians as they wish, and to destroy as much of Gaza as they desire)!

Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment.

Biden has, in the months since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, called for a two-state solution (lip service only) to come in the wake of the conflict. On November 15, during a press conference in San Francisco, the president said that a "real" Palestinian state must exist alongside Israel.

"I can tell you, I don't think it ultimately ends until there's a two-state solution," Biden said.

The establishment of such a state has long been a stated policy goal of the U.S. government, though successive presidential administrations have been unable to bring it to fruition. Since the beginning of the recent conflict, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reiterated this goal alongside the president.

"We think the best way to resolve it remains a two-state solution," Blinken said (lip service only) in an October 8 interview. "And one that ensures that Palestinians and Israelis alike know equal measures of democracy, of opportunity, of dignity in their lives. That's why we've been very focused on that track as well" (lip service only)

Biden Says He Wants Israel to Leave Gaza (msn.com)

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Biden speech in South Carolina church interrupted by protesters

 Chants of 'Cease-fire now': Biden heckled at Charleston church by protesters

By ELENA SCHNEIDER

January 8, 2024

Protesters calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict interrupted President Joe Biden’s campaign speech Monday at a historic South Carolina church.

A handful of protesters, chanting “ceasefire now,” were quickly shouted down by chants of “four more years” by supporters, during Biden’s speech at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, the site of the 2015 murders of nine people by a white supremacist.

“I understand their passion,” Biden said, acknowledging the protesters, as well as a rift that’s divided some within the Democratic Party. “I’ve been quietly working with the Israeli government to get them to reduce and significantly get out of Gaza” (lip service only).

Biden’s speech in South Carolina also comes as he faces weakening polling numbers, particularly among Black voters. Black political leaders, including Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), have said they are “very concerned” about the Biden campaign’s a bility to “break through the MAGA wall” to reach voters.

Biden speech in South Carolina church interrupted by Israel-Hamas protestors - POLITICO

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Biden condemns ‘poison’ of white supremacy in campaign speech at South Carolina church

PBS, January 8, 2024

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) —

Courting Black voters he needs to win reelection, President Joe Biden on Monday denounced the “poison” of white supremacy in America, declaring at the site of a deadly racist church shooting in South Carolina that such ideology has no place in America, “not today, tomorrow or ever.”

Biden spoke from the pulpit of Mother Emanuel AME Church, where in 2015 nine Black parishioners were shot to death by the white stranger they had invited to join their Bible study.

Biden was briefly interrupted when several people upset over by his staunch support for Israel in its war against Hamas called out that if he really cared about lives lost he would call for a cease-fire in Gaza to help innocent Palestinians who are being killed under Israel’s bombardment. The chants of “cease-fire now” were drowned out by audience members chanting “four more years.”

Associated Press Race and Ethnicity News Editor Aaron Morrison in New York contributed to this report. Miller and Superville reported from Washington.

WATCH: Biden condemns ‘poison’ of white supremacy in campaign speech at South Carolina church | PBS NewsHour

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Biden’s speech in South Carolina church interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters

Washington Times, January 8, 2024

By Jeff Mordock  

Protestors against the Israel-Hamas war chant “cease-fire now” as President Joe Biden delivers his speech at Mother Emanuel AME Church where nine worshippers were killed in a mass shooting by a white supremacist in 2015 in Charleston, S.C., Monday, January 8, 2024

President Biden was interrupted Monday by pro-Palestinian protesters who shouted “cease-fire now” over his remarks during a campaign speech at a South Carolina church where a White supremacist killed nine Black people in 2015.

“If you really care about the lives lost here, then you should honor the lives lost and call for a cease-fire in Palestine,” a woman yelled from one of the pews, cutting off Mr. Biden‘s remarks at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.

“Cease-fire now. Cease-fire now,” the protesters chanted repeatedly as Mr. Biden stood silently.

“That’s all right. That’s all right,” Mr. Biden attempted to say as the protesters chanted over him.

Supporters of Mr. Biden who were attending the speech began shouting down the protesters by chanting, “Four more years!”

“I understand their passion and we will be quietly working with the Israeli government to get them to reduce [military operations] and significantly get out of Gaza. I’m using all that I can [to] do that,” Mr. Biden said after security escorted out the protesters.

Since war broke out between Israel and Hamas in October, Mr. Biden has been heckled and interrupted at several events by pro-Palestinian protesters. He was interrupted during his keynote address at the Human Rights Campaign annual dinner at a private fundraiser.

Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.

Biden's speech in South Carolina church interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters - Washington Times

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Joe Biden's church speech interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters demanding 'ceasefire now'

News Sky, Monday 8 January 2024 23:07, UK

Biden's speech interrupted by protesters

Joe Biden was interrupted during a speech at a church on Monday by pro-Palestinian protesters who demanded: "Ceasefire now".

The US president was giving a speech to a church in Charleston, South Carolina, where an avowed white supremacist shot nine black parishioners in 2015.

"If you really care about the lives lost here, then you should honour lives lost and call for a ceasefire in Palestine," one protester shouted, before others chanted: "Ceasefire now".

The president attempted to calm the situation, holding up his hands while saying: "That's alright."

As security removed the protesters from the church, he said: "I understand their passion, and I've been quietly working, quietly working with the Israeli government to get them to reduce and significantly get out of Gaza."

According to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, more than 23,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the deadly 7 October attacks on Israel by Hamas fighters, which killed more than 1,200 and triggered the Israeli assault.

Joe Biden's church speech interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters demanding 'ceasefire now' | US News | Sky News

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