Dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside the homes of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Christmas morning, aiming to disrupt the holiday for these high-ranking officials in President Biden's administration.

Videos shared by the far-left organization, The People's Forum, captured the demonstrators chanting slogans such as "Austin, Austin, rise and shine, no sleep during genocide!" The crowd also chanted "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," a slogan that is widely interpreted as a genocidal call to wipe Israel and its people off the map. Additionally, protesters demanded a cease-fire by the Israel Defense Forces in the Gaza Strip and chanted "Free Palestine."

The People's Forum has been critical of Israel's military response to the October 7 terror attack by Hamas, which resulted in an estimated 1,200 deaths, including 33 Americans. The group was also involved in organizing the controversial rally in Times Square on October 8, where Israeli flags were burned and a swastika was displayed towards pro-Israel counter-protesters.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has made several trips to Israel since the October 7 attack and has played a role in coordinating logistical and military support from the Biden administration to Israel. It is unclear whether Austin or Sullivan were present at their homes during the demonstrations.

The non-partisan organization Stop Antisemitism condemned the protestors' actions, asserting that harassing a four-star general who has dedicated his career to serving his country will not achieve their goal of "Free Palestine."

In a private Telegram chat, activists urged locals to join the demonstrations, emphasizing that there should be no business as usual during what they referred to as a "genocide." Their message highlighted opposition to any member of the Biden administration who supports or enables the "zionist aggression against Gaza."

Eventually, the police intervened and threatened arrests, causing the crowd to disperse. Some demonstrators then relocated to the DuPont Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC, where they held a rally near Jake Sullivan's home, reiterating their demand for a cease-fire.

The Washington Post reached out to both the City of Falls Church Police Department and DC's Metropolitan Police Department for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

The Biden administration has faced criticism from the left for their unwavering support of Israel and their commitment to dismantling Hamas. However, behind closed doors, the White House has urged Israel to conclude their operations within weeks and to pay closer attention to civilian casualties.