United States President Donald Trump was interrupted by protesters mid-speech during his address to the Israeli parliament on Monday, October 13. After the disruption, Trump paused briefly and resumed with, “So back to Steve,” before continuing his remarks. Two left-wing lawmakers, Ayman Odeh and Ofer Cassif, members of a joint Palestinian-Israeli political party, were ejected from the chamber for displaying signs that read “Recognise Palestine.”
Security personnel acted swiftly to remove them as Trump watched from the podium. The remaining lawmakers responded with a strong round of applause. The two leaders belong to Opposition bloc and are known for being critics of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his policies regarding the occupied Palestinian territories.
Who is Ayman Odeh?
Ayman Odeh posted about the incident on his X account, stating that he was removed simply for raising the most basic demand. “They removed me from the plenum just because I raised the simplest demand, a demand that the entire international community agrees on. To recognise a Palestinian state. To recognise this simple reality. There are two peoples here, and neither is going anywhere,” he wrote on X.
Born on 1 January 1975, Ayman Aadil Odeh is an Arab Israeli lawyer and politician. He is a member of Knesset and leader of the Hadash alliance. He describes himself as an atheist. In November 2024, Odeh was ejected from the Knesset after accusing PM Netanyahu of being a “serial killer of peace.” Odeh has also been a vocal advocate for greater recognition of Mizrahi culture and Arab Jewish history within both official Israeli and Palestinian narratives.
הוציאו אותי מהמליאה רק כי העליתי את הדרישה הפשוטה ביותר, דרישה שכל הקהילה הבינלאומית מסכימה עליה:
להכיר במדינה פלסטינית.
להכיר במציאות הפשוטה הזו:
יש כאן שני עמים, ואף אחד לא זז מכאן. pic.twitter.com/vIsj4KG7vf
— איימן עודה أيمن عودة Ayman Odeh (@AyOdeh) October 13, 2025
Who is Ofer Cassif?
Born on 25 December 1964, Ofer Cassif is a far-left Israeli politician. He has represented Hadash in the Knesset since April 2019. He is Jewish. Cassif previously served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) with the Nahal and the Nahal paratrooper brigade. Cassif, who has openly described himself as “an explicit anti-Zionist,” has long been vocal in his opposition to Israeli government policies. In an interview with Haaretz, he stated, “I object to the ideology and practice of Zionism… it’s a racist ideology and practice which espouses Jewish supremacy.”
Following the incident, Casiff took to X and stated that they did not only want to disturb the US President’s speech but wanted to demand justice. “True peace that will save both peoples of this land from destruction will only come with the end of the occupation and apartheid and the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Refuse to be occupiers! Resist the government of bloodshed!” Casiff wrote in Hebrew on X.
Recognize Palestine!
This is the banner I waved in front of Trump at the Knesset and subsequently removed from the plenum.
A true just peace that will save both people of this land from agony can only materialize by a complete end of the occupation and universal recognition of… https://t.co/gxmdvWVWIT
— Ofer Cassif עופר כסיף عوفر كسيف (@ofercass) October 13, 2025
