A group of protesters calling for a cease-fire in the war in Gaza on Thursday gathered near the White House and the U.S. Capitol ahead of President Joe Biden s State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress to show their opposition to the presidents handling of the ongoing conflict.

Protesters blocked Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., along the route Bidens motorcade usually takes from the White House to the U.S. Capitol, reportedly forcing the president to take a longer route .

Demonstrators staged a sit-in on Pennsylvania Avenue, with many holding banners reading CEASEFIRE and BIDENS LEGACY IS GENOCIDE, as they demanded an end to the violence that has so far killed over 30,000 Palestinians, according to local officials.

This comes as talks between Israel and Hamas for a temporary truce ahead of the holy month of Ramadan have so far stalled. A Hamas spokesperson said those talks would continue next week, according to The Associated Press .