Veterans, Doctors, and Lawmakers Rally Outside U.S. Capitol Against Gaza Starvation, Trump’s Israel Policy

A coalition of U.S. veterans, doctors, former officials, and human rights advocates gathered outside the Capitol this week, calling out what they see as America’s complicity in the deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

Led by Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, the group condemned both the Biden-era policies that enabled Israel’s devastating blockade and President Donald Trump’s continuation of that same strategy. The message was loud and clear: enough is enough.

To hammer the point home — literally — protesters banged on empty pots, a symbolic cry against what they describe as starvation warfare. Dozens held up images of severely malnourished Palestinian children, as they urged Washington to end its unconditional support for Israel’s military campaign.

They pointed to the over 100 starvation deaths already reported and accused U.S. aid and weapons shipments of fueling a crisis, not preventing it. Many criticized Congress for turning a blind eye to the suffering, even as polls show growing disapproval among American voters of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Tlaib took direct aim at her colleagues, urging them to finally listen to their constituents. Frustration also spilled over into progressive circles. The Michigan congresswoman criticized a recent vote by fellow Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who opposed an amendment to halt $500 million in missile defense aid to Israel. Only six lawmakers supported the measure. For many in the crowd, any weapons — defensive or not — are part of the problem.

Others turned their sights on Trump. Despite earlier promises to bring peace to the Middle East and win support from Arab and Muslim communities in places like Michigan, Trump has kept military aid flowing to Israel and thrown his weight behind policies that critics say amount to ethnic cleansing.

Since his return to office, Trump has supported the resumption of Israel’s assault on Gaza and backed the siege that has crippled food delivery. His administration has pushed the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) — a U.S.- and Israeli-led aid initiative — as a solution. But Palestinians and rights groups have called it a sham.

According to multiple reports, the aid sites promoted by GHF are located deep in Israeli-controlled zones in southern Gaza. For those seeking food, they’ve become deadly traps. Israeli forces have repeatedly fired on crowds of hungry civilians near these locations. Despite this, the U.S. continues to tout the GHF’s distribution of 90 million meals — a number that aid groups say barely scratches the surface of Gaza’s need.

In the north of Gaza, where hunger is most acute, Israel has allowed in only a limited number of convoys — and even those have come under fire.

The State Department insists that the U.S. is aware of the situation and working to ensure aid reaches civilians without being “weaponized by Hamas.” But for many on the ground, these claims ring hollow.

With starvation mounting and the bombs still falling, demonstrators outside the Capitol warned that America is on the wrong side of history — and it’s time for a reckoning.

With input from Al Jazeera