Seattle: A group of pro-Palestine activists staged a protest on northbound Interstate 5 in Seattle on Saturday, January 6, 2024, demanding an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The protest, which began at around 1:15 pm, caused a long traffic jam that stretched for more than 9.7 kilometers, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). Drivers were advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes.
The protesters, who were part of the Palestine Solidarity Committee of Seattle, also occupied a nearby bridge and chanted slogans such as “Free, Free Palestine” and “Hey Hey, Ho Ho, Occupation has to go”. They waved Palestinian flags and banners denouncing Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip, which have resulted in thousands of civilian casualties and widespread destruction.
The protest was part of a global call for solidarity with the Palestinian people, who have been under siege by Israel since October 7, 2023, when Hamas and other militant groups launched a surprise attack on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip. The attack, which marked the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, killed about 1,200 Israelis and took about 250 others hostage, making it the deadliest day for Israel since its independence. Israel responded with airstrikes and a blockade of Gaza, followed by a ground invasion and a siege of Gaza City. The war, which has been the most intense and prolonged in the region’s history, has claimed more than 24,000 lives, mostly Palestinians, and displaced millions of people.
The protesters in Seattle said they wanted to raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and pressure the US government, which is Israel’s main ally and arms supplier, to intervene and stop the war. They also expressed their support for the Hamas-led resistance, which they viewed as a legitimate struggle against Israel’s occupation and oppression of the Palestinian territories. They said they would continue to protest until Israel ends its aggression and lifts its blockade of Gaza, and until the Palestinians achieve their right to self-determination and statehood.
