'Let them talk': Biden defends pro-Palestinian protesters, adds killing 'must stop'

President Joe Biden encouraged a crowd to listen to a pro-Palestinian protester during a speech on Friday, adding that the killing of innocent people “must stop.”

The interruption during a historic apology from Biden for the federal government's longstanding practice of sending Native American youth to boarding schools, a blatant attempt at ethnic cleansing aimed at stripping Native Americans of their culture and language. Biden called the schools, which have operated for more than a century, a “sin on our souls.”

“To this day, the federal government has never officially apologized for the incident. I formally apologize,” Biden said during his speech to the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona.

“What about the people of Gaza?” one woman shouted during Biden’s remarks. “It is an empty promise to our people. How can you apologize for genocide while committing genocide in Palestine?”

“Let them talk,” Biden pleaded with someone who appeared to be trying to eject the protester. “Let them go. A lot of innocent people are being killed and it has to stop.”

Biden's administration has been the subject of protests over its continued military support for Israel more than a year after the Gaza war began. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has slowly advanced U.S.-brokered attempts at a ceasefire, reportedly heeding hints and calls from his political ally Donald Trump.

The President's response demonstrates his willingness to listen to views against Israeli military operations. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both said Israel should use the recent killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as an “opportunity to end” the war.