Washington, December 14 (RHC)-- In the United States, Biden administration staffers held a vigil in front of the White House on Wednesday to call on President Joe Biden to support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Nearly 50 staff members attended, including political appointees, administration staffers and civil service career staff, with participants wearing sunglasses and masks to conceal their identities.

Banners read “President Biden, your staff demands a ceasefire” as candles were lit spelling out “Ceasefire”, and called the war “unacceptable.”  During the vigil, flowers were set in memory of the victims in Gaza, while the names of Palestinians killed since the end of the humanitarian pause on December 1st were read aloud from a 33-page list. 

Former State Department official Josh Paul, who resigned in October as a result of opposing US military aid to Israel, gave an opening speech.

“The U/S/ government’s decision to double down on fueling the violence has put our objectives … around the globe in jeopardy for us to achieve any movement on some of the most intractable issues we face today,” Paul said. 

Last month, more than 700 staffers and political appointees signed a letter calling on the president to support a ceasefire.