Trump Needs an America-First Middle East Strategy

The president should embrace peace for Americans, not wage wars for foreign governments.

Doug Bandow

Apr 3, 2025

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/trump-needs-an-america-first-middle-east-strategy/

President Donald Trump promised a new beginning in foreign policy. In Europe he has taken an independent course, pushing Russia and Ukraine to make peace. However, in the Middle East he continues down his predecessors’ misbegotten path—apparently ready to wage new, even more destructive wars.

Successive administrations made the American people accomplices to mass killing in Yemen—on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They also aided Islamic jihadists in attempting to overthrow Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, providing weapons to radicals who targeted religious minorities. Multiple presidents threatened military action against Iran, a nation that endangers the Saudis and Israelis, not America. The same administrations waged war against Shia militias in Iraq after President George W. Bush blew up that nation, triggering a sectarian civil war. Washington has consistently underwritten Israel’s brutal treatment of Arabs, both under and beyond the latter government’s control.

In short, America’s record in the Middle East is one of counterproductive, lawless violence, often on behalf of other states. At least Bush alleged the presence of important U.S. interests in Iraq. His successors have essentially represented the Saudi royal family and Israel’s radical Netanyahu coalition. In the process, Washington abandoned even the pretense of humanitarian commitments.

The results are beyond catastrophic, as Maha Yahya of the Carnegie Middle East Center recently noted in Foreign Affairs: 

“Over the last 15 years, the Middle East has been racked by war, destruction, and displacement. Hundreds of thousands of people have died as fighting raged in Gaza, Lebanon, Libya, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Millions more have fled. The violence has rolled back gains in education, health, and income while laying waste to homes, schools, hospitals, roads, railways, and power grids. The war in Gaza has proved especially devastating, setting back the territory’s socioeconomic indicators to 1955 levels. The World Bank and UN organizations have estimated that rebuilding the Middle East and providing enough humanitarian aid will cost between $350 and $650 billion. The UN Development Program has estimated that at least $40 to $50 billion is needed to rebuild Gaza alone.”

Unfortunately, Trump is continuing this disastrous approach. He is intensifying the Biden administration’s illegal military campaign against Yemen and threatening war against Iran. He doubled down on his predecessor’s unconditional backing for Israel’s murderous campaign in Gaza, endorsing Israel’s breach of the very ceasefire that he had demanded both parties accept. Finally, the new administration is ramping up military action nearby—in Somalia, for instance—despite little evidence of any threat to America.

In much of this Trump is effectively backed by the Blob, the foreign policy establishment, despite its ostentatious contempt for him. In Washington there is almost unanimous support for an imperial foreign policy in the name of the fictitious “rules-based order,” a system designed by Western nations yet routinely breached by them. For many Blob members, war is a first, not last, resort. Dominance and primacy are considered to be adequate reward, irrespective of the amount of wealth squandered or number of American, let alone foreign, lives sacrificed.

Washington once viewed the Middle East as vital. The region provided much of the West’s oil supplies. The genesis of the Carter Doctrine, the willingness to use force in the Persian Gulf, was fear that the Soviet Union might capture or destabilize the region. However, international energy supplies have diversified, the U.S. has become the world’s leading energy producer, and no foreign power threatens to dominate the Gulf. Energy is no reason for America to promiscuously intervene, let alone do so militarily, in the region.

Another traditional justification for perpetual meddling in the Middle East was Israel. Washington long has provided essentially unconditional support for that state’s policies, however ruthless. The worst rationale is junk theology depicting a modern secular state run by atheists as the theological successor to the ancient Hebraic kingdom. In any case, Israel is now a regional superpower, with conventional superiority and nuclear weapons. It is well able to defend itself, though it has most recently used its military power for expansion—in the West Bank and potentially in Gaza and elsewhere.

Islamist violence against American and other targets turned terrorism into another justification to use military force. But Washington’s interventions actually were the primary cause of attacks on Americans. Bombing, invading, and occupying other nations, supporting allied states that did the same, and underwriting authoritarian, oppressive regimes created blowback. What sane Arab resident, other than a royal potentate, could view Washington as a friend? Unfortunately, American civilians were the most vulnerable target. The U.S. should avoid other nations’ squabbles, rather than take on those controversies as its own.

Mixed in is fear of a hostile regional hegemon. Yet the U.S. has shown no concern about the Saudi royal family imposing tyranny at home and engaging in aggression abroad. For instance, Riyadh helped solidify the oppressive rule of the minority Sunni royal family over the majority Shia population in Bahrain. Similarly, successive administrations exhibited few qualms about Israel’s ability to bomb Palestinian subjects and neighboring nations. Despite the caterwauling in Washington about Iran, the latter’s rulers have generally sought to avoid a confrontation with America. Anyway, domination of the Middle East offered little advantage after energy supplies diversified. The Middle East, filled with primordial disputes and, worse, failed and failing states, should be treated as the least important region for the U.S., other than Antarctica.

Trump does not argue that the Middle East matters or that intervening advances U.S. interests. Treating the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia like an ally risks U.S. lives for nothing. Making the Middle East safe for absolute monarchy makes a mockery of Washington’s claimed commitment to human rights. Moreover, underwriting Israeli policies, most notably refusing to treat Palestinians as human beings with fundamental rights and legitimate aspirations, ensures that the Middle East will remain in violent turmoil. Observed Maha Yahya: “Try as they might, Israel and the United States cannot bring about peace by sidestepping the Palestinians. In fact, attempting to do so is what got them here.” Yet Trump doesn’t even pretend to care about the brutal ethnic/religious cleansing and promiscuous killing of Palestinians and other Arabs.

Fueling wars elsewhere is no answer. Battling Ansar Allah in Yemen may prove endless. Addressing the group, also known as the Houthis, the president insisted: “Stop shooting at U.S. ships, and we will stop shooting at you.” However, they are targeting U.S. vessels because Washington intervened in their neighborhood. The Houthis interrupted Red Sea traffic in response to Israel’s U.S.-enabled destruction of Gaza and halted their attacks during the recent, short-lived ceasefire. Trump triumphantly declared that “The Iran-backed Houthi Terrorists have been decimated by the relentless strikes over the past two weeks,” but the Biden administration regularly targeted Ansar Allah and its allies since December 2023 without evident result. Moreover, the Houthis outlasted years of Saudi bombing using American planes guided by American intelligence serviced by American contractors dropping American munitions and initially refueled by American tankers.

Ultimately, U.S. victory in Yemen would likely require use of ground forces. James R. Holmes of the Naval War College observed that “Aircraft cannot occupy territory, however valuable a supporting capability they are for armies and Marines.” Insisting that the Netanyahu government live up to the recent ceasefire would be the simplest strategy to reopen the Red Sea. And even victory would yield few benefits for America. Washington’s reputation will decline as the administration follows the Saudi practice of killing civilians to achieve its ends. Finally, noted Vice President J.D. Vance in the infamous Signal group chat, Trump is now doing Europe’s (as well as China’s!) bidding, making the seas safe for other nations’ ships. This after the Europeans decided it was better to pay a little more for shipping rather than fight a desultory war in the Middle East.

Tehran does not threaten America, yet the president appears to be even more enthused about attacking Iran than Yemen: “If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing,” he declared: “It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.” Tragically, it was Trump’s foolish first-term decision (against the advice of most of his advisers) to abandon the JCPOA nuclear deal that pushed Tehran substantially closer to developing nuclear weapons.

War with Iran without congressional authorization would be illegal. It also would invite potentially devastating retaliation throughout the region. Threatened Iranian military commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh: “Someone in glass houses does not throw stones at anyone,” yet “The Americans have at least 10 bases with 50,000 troops in the region, meaning they are sitting in a glass house.” The Gulf kingdoms could find their oil facilities to be targets as well. Iraq, a Shia-majority nation in which Tehran enjoys substantial political influence and supports significant paramilitary allies, also could be drawn into the conflict. Finally, an attack on Iran would dramatically demonstrate to the Iranian regime that only a nuclear weapon can ensure its survival.

The president is rightly determined to return Americans’ interests to the center of Washington’s policy toward Europe. Yet in the Middle East he risks initiating the sort of endless wars for which he criticized his predecessors. Another illegal aggressive conflict would take America’s reputation to new lows. Amid multiple Middle East crises the administration likely would discover America to be quite lonely, despite its power.

Instead, Trump should apply the principle of America First to the Middle East. That region no longer matters much beyond its boundaries, especially to this nation. Washington’s policy should reflect this modern reality.

Hamas Has 75% of Tunnels Intact, 40,000 Fighters & Rocket Production Facilities

by Kyle Anzalone | Apr 10, 2025

https://libertarianinstitute.org/news/hamas-has-75-of-tunnels-intact-40000-fighters-rocket-production-facilities/

Israeli military sources speaking to the press revealed the lack of progress Tel Aviv has made toward one of its core goals in Gaza: eliminating Hamas. The armed wing of the Palestinian group reportedly retains 75% of its tunnel network, 40,000 fighters and the ability to produce its own weapons.

According to Haaretz, an Israeli defense official explained that Hamas still has significant military capabilities despite 18 months of fighting in the Strip. Israeli military analysts now estimate that Hamas has 40,000 fighters.

Before October 7, 2023, Hamas was estimated to have between 20,000 and 30,000 fighters under arms. Near the end of the Joe Biden administration, the US intelligence community estimated the group had lost 15,000 men during the Israeli onslaught, but had recruited the same number of new troops.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that one of his top goals in Gaza is to eradicate Hamas. However, the war has decimated the civilian population of Gaza. Most Gazans have been displaced multiple times, at least 50,000 have been killed, and countless deaths of deprivation have been reported.

Tel Aviv and Washington maintain that all of the fatalities caused by the Israeli war and blockade are the responsibility of Hamas.

The Israeli defense officials reported that despite some protests, Hamas retains its popularity and is firmly in charge of Gaza. Its armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, still has the capability to produce arms and rockets.

Last week, Hamas fired several rockets into Israel, leaving one person injured.

While Hamas has a significant fighting force, Israeli officials said the militants have not been engaging with Israeli troops. Tel Aviv says the fighters are hiding among civilians or in tunnels.

Hamas also retains a significant portion of its tunnel network. The officials said the IDF has only managed to destroy 25% of the group’s underground facilities so far. Defense Minister Israel Katz explained that some of the tunnels connecting Gaza with Egypt remain intact.

 

Talking to America: How Far Will Iran Go?

by Ted Snider 

Posted on April 10, 2025

https://original.antiwar.com/Ted_Snider/2025/04/09/talking-to-america-how-far-will-iran-go/

In March, U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter directly to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, informing him that Iran has two months to negotiate a nuclear deal with the U.S. and that, if he refuses to do so, the risk of military action against Iran’s civilian nuclear facilities would dramatically increase. “If they don’t make a deal,” Trump said, “there will be bombing. It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.”

Trump hinted at that threat again on April 7, saying, “You know, it’s not a complicated formula. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. That’s all there is,” and that “I think if the talks aren’t successful with Iran, I think Iran is going to be in great danger.”

Iran has been willing to negotiate a new nuclear agreement with the United States. Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, was elected on a promise of direct negotiations with the United States, and Khamenei supported him.

But that hope exploded on February 4 when Trump signed a presidential memorandum endorsing maximum pressure sanctions on Iran. Pezeshkian reversed his policy, declaring that Iran “will not yield to foreign pressure.” A month later, Pezeshkian responded to U.S. threats, insisting that “the language of threats and coercion is absolutely unacceptable… It is unacceptable for someone to come along and say, ‘Don’t do this, don’t do that, or else.’ I won’t come to negotiate with you. Go do whatever the hell you want.”

Direct negotiations with the U.S. have been ruled out by Iran until “there is a change in the other side’s approach.” However, commenting on Iran’s response to Trump’s letter, Pezeshkian said that “Although in our response the topic of direct negotiation between the two sides has been rejected, it has been stated that the path to indirect talks is open.”

On April 7, Trump stunned everyone by announcing that the U.S. and Iran would meet for “direct talks” on April 12 and that the talks would be held at “almost the highest level.” It has now been reported that Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff will lead the U.S. delegation, and foreign minister Abbas Araghchi will lead Iran’s.

Though confirming the talks, Iran denies that they will be direct. Iranian officials say that officials from the U.S. and Washington will meet in Oman on April 12 for “indirect talks.” American and Iranian negotiators will be in separate rooms, and Omani diplomats will carry their messages back and forth. According to Iran, subsequent direct talks would be contingent upon the indirect talks going well. Though Araghchi maintains that “[f]or the time being, indirect is our preference. And we have no plan to alter it to direct.”

Iran’s reluctance to negotiate directly has two sources. The first is Pezeshkian refusal to “yield to foreign pressure” and negotiate under threats. The second is Khamenei’s attention to history. Khamenei has pointed to the U.S. illegally pulling out of the JCPOA nuclear agreement, saying, “One must not negotiate with a government like the US government. Negotiations with it is not wise, it is not intelligent, and is not honorable.” Later, Khamenei would further in a post that “[t]his same US president tore up the signed JCPOA agreement. How could we hold negotiations with US when we know they don’t fulfill their commitments?”

But the negotiations over the structure of the negotiations will be less challenging than the negotiations over what will be up for negotiations. Iran will be willing to negotiate verifiable limits on its nuclear program in exchange for sanction relief and an open door back to relations with the West because they continue to insist that they do not have a nuclear weapons program, an insistence with which the latest U.S. intelligence agrees. The just published 2025 Annual Threat Assessment states that the intelligence community “continue[s] to assess Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and that Khamenei has not reauthorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003.”

But, as a signatory to the the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran has “the inalienable right to a civilian program that uses “nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.” Iran will not surrender this right. And that could be a problem because National Security Advisor Mike Waltz recently explained that the U.S. position is that Iran would have to dismantle its civilian nuclear program. He told CBS’s Face the Nation that the U.S. demands “full disarmament.” He says Iran “has to give up its program” and stop “enrichment,” seemingly meaning that Iran must cease enriching uranium even for civilian purposes. “The full program,” he said, “give it up or there will be consequences.”

The second obstacle would appear if the U.S. insists, as Waltz has suggested that they will, that Iran also has to give up its “strategic missile program.” Iran’s missile program is integral to its defense strategy, and its value has gone up with the recent degradation of its front-line proxy defense partnerships. Iran is unlikely to put its missiles on the negotiating table.

That the U.S. and Iran will open the door to talks this weekend is a very positive development. Though the media focus is on whether those talks will be direct or indirect, what will really determine their chance of success is not their format but their scope. If the talks remain tightly focused on verifiable limitations on Iran’s peaceful, civilian nuclear program, they have a real chance of succeeding; if they widen the focus to dismantling Iran’s legal civilian nuclear program, then the talks are likely dead before they even begin.

Majority of Americans hold unfavourable view of Israel, Pew poll finds

Even among traditionally pro-Israel Republicans, there have been large shifts in negative sentiment amid Israel's war on Gaza

By MEE staff

Published date: 9 April 2025

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/majority-americans-hold-unfavourable-view-israel-pew-poll-finds

More than a majority of Americans now have a negative view of Israel, according to a recent poll, underscoring the fallout from Israel’s war on Gaza.

According to a Pew Research poll published on Tuesday, 53 percent of Americans now express an unfavourable opinion of Israel, up from 42 percent in March 2022 - before the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel and Israel’s decimation of the enclave.

Democrats are still more likely than Republicans to express a negative opinion of Israel by 69 percent to 37 percent, respectively. But the number of Republicans who hold negative opinions on Israel has increased 10 percentage points since 2022.

Young Republicans, those under the age of 50, especially, are now more likely to have an unfavourable view of Israel, with 50 percent polling in that direction. That gap underscores the rise of popular alternative conservative media voices like Candice Owens and Tucker Carlson, who have become more open to challenging Israel.

Among Democrats, those with a negative view of Israel has also grown. The 69 percent of Democrats with that view marks a 16 percent increase since 2022, when 53 percent of Democrats viewed Israel unfavourably.

A majority of Americans across every demographic on both sides, with the exception of Republicans aged 18-49, agree that Israel's war on Gaza was both "personally" important to them and US interests.

Jewish Americans have been moving away from Israel in recent years. This trend picked up over domestic differences within Israel over the country’s Supreme Court but has been turbocharged since the war in Gaza erupted. However, at least 73 percent of Jewish Americans still hold a favourable view of Israel.

After them, White evangelicals hold the highest favourable view of Israel at 72 percent. Notably, more White Protestants and Catholics now hold unfavourable views of Israel at 50 percent and 53 percent, respectively.

Muslim Americans hold the strongest unfavourable views of Israel, with 81 percent against and just 19 percent viewing Israel favourably.

Americans don't want to 'take over' Gaza

The poll was conducted just before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the White House earlier this week. His trip came amid rising tensions between the US, Israel and Iran, and with a Gaza ceasefire process that is stalled as Israel continues to pummel the Gaza Strip.

US President Donald Trump's handling of Israel's war on Gaza garnered mixed results among those polled, with 31 percent saying he is favouring the Israelis too much and 29 percent saying he's striking the right balance. Just three percent said he was favouring Palestinians too much, with the highest chunk of respondents, 37 percent, saying they were unsure.

More than half of Americans think that a two-state solution "cannot be found for Israel and an independent Palestinian state to co-exist peacefully", while 46 percent still think it can be done.

Trump also reiterated his previous plan to "take over" the Gaza Strip during his meeting with Netanyahu, an idea that 36 percent of Americans think Trump will not pursue, according to the Pew poll.

Polling showed the idea is unpopular with Americans, with 62 percent opposing the US "taking over Gaza", including 49 percent who strongly oppose it. Just 15 percent support the plan.

Trump also announced during Netanyahu’s visit that the US would begin “direct talks" with Iran on a nuclear deal on Saturday. Tehran says the talks will be indirect.

Netanyahu is seen as an advocate for military strikes on Iran. One of Trump’s top advocates in the US media, conservative podcaster Carlson, wrote ahead of Netanyahu’s visit how “now is the worst possible time for the United States to participate in a military strike on Iran”.

“We can’t afford it. Thousands of Americans would die. We’d lose the war that follows. Nothing would be more destructive to our country,” he said.

According to the survey, a slim majority of Americans, 52 percent, have little or no confidence in Netanyahu to “do the right thing regarding world affairs”.

Among Jewish Americans, 53 percent have little to no confidence in Netanyahu.

 

Tariff blackmail cannot intimidate China: Global Times editorial

By Global Times

Published: Apr 08, 2025

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1331627.shtml

The US government, under the guise of "reciprocity," has announced tariff hikes on all its trade partners, including China, provoking widespread outrage in the international community. The Chinese government's position on opposing the US abuse of tariffs emphasizes that the US has used tariffs as a tool for extreme pressure and to pursue selfish interests. Previously, China announced a series of countermeasures, and the international community has clearly seen China's firm determination and will to defend its sovereignty, security, development, and to uphold international fairness and justice. Tariff blackmail will not intimidate China, nor will it undermine justice. China does not provoke trouble, nor is it intimidated by trouble. Pressuring and threatening are not the right way in dealing with China.

China's firm stance on striking countermeasures stems from the fact that the US' reason for tariff hikes is utterly unfounded. Under the guise of addressing "unfair foreign trade practices," the US has slapped high tariffs on its global trade partners. In reality, this is nothing more than protectionism and unilateral bullying - political blackmail wrapped in the cloak of economic means. Such actions blatantly violate the core rules of the World Trade Organization and trample on China's legitimate rights in global trade, as well as its long-standing efforts to open up. The so-called "reciprocal tariffs" have caused enormous damage to the world trade system and global supply chains, and they will pose a serious drag on global economic growth. 

China is an ancient civilization known for its traditions of etiquette and respect. The Chinese people value sincerity and trust as the foundation of their relationships. However, standing firm in the face of pressure and threats is equally a defining trait of the Chinese spirit. Looking back at history, China stood tall even in times of poverty and weakness - much less will it ever yield to hegemony today. Compared to the US government's initiation of a trade war with China in 2017, today we have a much stronger capacity to withstand pressure, richer experience in handling struggles, and comprehensive preparations to face challenges. China's industrial system and technological autonomy have significantly improved, its domestic market and economic structure continue to optimize, and its multilateral cooperation and trade partnerships have become more diverse. These factors give China greater confidence in the face of risks. As Bloomberg put it, "China has already trade-war-proofed its economy." 

More importantly, China stands on the side of morality and historical righteousness. The US' latest round of tariff hikes targets more than 180 countries and regions around the world, including even the United Nations-designated "least developed countries." Some commentators have noted that such high tariffs will deal a devastating blow to vulnerable nations with narrow economic structures and heavy reliance on exports. China's decisive countermeasures against the erroneous practices of the US not only defend its own interests but also actively uphold a fair and free world trading system.

China's countermeasures are not a call to confrontation, but a declaration to defend fairness. Amid the US repeatedly wielding the tariff stick, China has consistently responded with reason, strength, and restraint. Behind this calm and composed approach lies China's firm understanding that the key is to focus on doing its own things well. No matter how the US cracks down on or pressures it, China remains steadfast in its development and progress. More importantly, China is committed to the path of international fairness and justice, and is willing to contribute certainty to global progress through its own development. This reflects the great vision of the Chinese nation, embodying the value pursuit of promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

The trade volume between China and the US is enormous. The high tariffs imposed by the US will inevitably impact the Chinese economy in the short term. China has ultimately made a "difficult but correct" decision. This confidence stems not only from China's economic strength but also from the fact that countries globally are participating in economic globalization and benefiting from it, as well as from the depth and breadth of economic and trade cooperation between China and the US. 

After the US announced, "reciprocal tariffs," Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, the largest manufacturing base in the US, immediately stated, "California is not Washington," and that his administration will pursue its own "strategic trade relationships" with international trade partners. This demonstrates that the global trade system, based on industrial chain division of labor and mutual benefit among countries, possesses a robust vitality that cannot be shaken by any political decision lacking realistic logic.

No one can stop China's development, and China-US economic and trade cooperation aligns with the will of the people. The trend toward economic globalization is an inevitable direction. Time will ultimately prove that the tide of history is unstoppable, moving forward relentlessly, and the Chinese people possess sufficient wisdom and strength to meet challenges, both today and in the future. China will continue to firmly stand on the right side of history and on the side of human civilization's progress, working together with the international community to contribute greater strength to humanity's peace and development. At the same time, we also urge Washington to immediately stop unilateral tariff measures and to resolve trade differences in an equal, respectful, and reciprocal manner.

Thousands rally in Washington to demand end to Gaza genocide, crackdown on pro-Palestine students

'With every arrest and threat, our movement shows up stronger,' says one protestor

Rabia İclal Turan |06.04.2025 - Update : 07.04.2025

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/thousands-rally-in-washington-to-demand-end-to-gaza-genocide-crackdown-on-pro-palestine-students/3529419

WASHINGTON

Thousands of people from across the United States gathered in Washington, DC, on Saturday to demand an end to Israel’s brutal assault on Gaza and the Trump administration’s intensifying crackdown on pro-Palestinian students and activists.

The rally dew support from more than 300 organizations and saw demonstrators convene at the intersection of 3rd Street NW and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Participants then marched to key sites, including the headquarters of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), calling for the release of detained pro-Palestinian students and academics such as Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil and Turkish student Rumeysa Ozturk.

The protest was co-sponsored by several advocacy groups, including the Palestinian Youth Movement, The People’s Forum, Jewish Voice for Peace and the ANSWER Coalition.

Protesters carried signs and posters depicting Palestinian children killed in Gaza and students arrested or deported for their activism, denouncing what they described as an attack on civil liberties under the Trump administration.

“We are so horrified about the treatment that students in the United States are facing just for saying genocide is bad,” said Ann Wright, a member of Code Pink and a former US diplomat, in an interview with Anadolu. “Some of them are getting detained, some deported. It is a horrible thing that’s happening in this country to people who simply have humanity.”

One such student, Mahmoud Khalil -- a green card holder and recent Columbia University graduate who helped organize campus protests last year, has become a symbol of the protest movement after being detained for his pro-Palestinian advocacy.

Suzanne Ali, a member of the Palestinian Youth Movement in the Bay Area, told Anadolu the rally demonstrated the resilience of the movement despite escalating repression. “We’re here with tens of thousands of people from across the United States, in defiance of the administration’s attempts to suppress our speech and detain our students,” she said. “With every arrest and threat, our movement shows up stronger.”

For many participants, the rally was deeply personal.

“I have been concerned about Palestine for 40 something years. This is the worse it’s ever been,” said Joni Nacef, a protester who traveled to the capital for the event. “It feels really hard right now in the United States. I just want to be able to do something.”

Another protester, Danny Moore, said, “I’m here because I want to support everyone being out in the streets to stop genocide, to stop oppression, to stop oligarchy, to stop dictatorship, which is where we're going. I don’t want to see any more people killed.”

Saturday’s march in Washington was part of a nationwide day of action, with similar rallies taking place in cities across the country.

Israeli Strikes on Gaza Kill 43 More Palestinians, Including Many Children

Gaza's Government Media Office said nearly 500 children have been killed by US-backed Israeli attacks since March 18

by Dave DeCamp April 6, 2025

https://news.antiwar.com/2025/04/06/israeli-strikes-on-gaza-kill-43-more-palestinians-including-many-children/

On Sunday, the Israeli military killed at least 43 Palestinians in Gaza, medical sources told Al Jazeera, as US-backed Israeli strikes continue to pound targets across the Strip.

Photos and videos coming out of Gaza show that many children were among the dead and wounded. According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, at least nine children were killed by Israeli shelling and airstrikes on the al-Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City.

Heavy Israeli attacks also hit southern Gaza, and at least 19 Palestinians were killed by strikes in the southern city of Khan Younis. Israeli troops have expanded their ground offensive in the area to capture the territory between Khan Younis and Rafah.

Gaza’s Government Media Office said on Sunday that since Israel restarted its genocidal war on March 18, which it did with full US support, 490 Palestinian children have been killed. The office said in a statement that the overall death toll had reached 1,350.

“The numbers alone are sufficient to confirm the existence of a systematic and deliberate policy of killing Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip at the hands of the Israeli occupation army,” the statement said.

Also on Sunday, the Israeli military said 10 rockets were fired from Gaza, an attack Hamas’s military wing, the al-Qassams Brigade, took credit for. Most projectiles were intercepted, but one landed in the Israeli city of Ashkelon. According to The Times of Israel, one man was “lightly wounded,” and several other Israelis were treated for “acute anxiety.”