Massive protests held amid Netanyahu's US visit, speech to Congress
Thousands of protesters condemning Israel's war in Gaza are in Washington on Wednesday, chanting "Free, Free Palestine" as some tried to block streets ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress.
Demonstrators carried signs with messages like "arrest Netanyahu" and "end all US aid to Israel," protesters began marching toward the Capitol, where Netanyahu will attempt to boost U.S. support for his country’s fight against Hamas.
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Capitol Police said in a post on X that six people who "disrupted" Netanyahu’s address were removed from the House gallery and arrested.
"Disrupting the Congress and demonstrating in the congressional buildings is against the law," police said. Outside of Union Station in D.C., at least four protesters were handcuffed and taken away by police.
Police deployed pepper spray as a large crowd protesting Israel’s war in Gaza marched toward the U.S. Capitol. U.S. Capitol Police said in a post on X that some members of the crowd had become "violent" and had "failed to obey" orders to move back from the police line.
"We are deploying pepper spray toward anyone trying to break the law and cross that line," Capitol Police said.
Organizers told the Associated Press they would try to block Netanyahu's route to the building, and police forcibly removed from the street protesters who were trying to block one intersection.
Wednesday’s demonstrations come a day after protesters opposed to the Gaza war staged a sit-in at a congressional office building Tuesday ahead of Netanyahu’s address to Congress, with Capitol Police making multiple arrests.
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Activists participate in a pro-Palestinian protest near the U.S. Capitol on July 24, 2024 in Washington, DC. Activists staged multiple protests near the Capitol to protest the visit of Netanyahu to Washington and to protest the war in Palestine. Cred
Protests were held Tuesday and were to continue throughout the day Wednesday. Relatives of Israeli hostages held a vigil on the National Mall. Police boosted security around the Capitol building and closed multiple roads for the week.
The Capitol Police told the AP about 200 people were arrested Tuesday on charges stemming from the sit-in at the Cannon building. Jewish Voice for Peace, which organized the protest, said many more than that were arrested, rabbis among them.
Why are the protests happening?
Netanyahu’s joint address to Congress will look a bit different from previous such addresses, in part due to opposition among Democrats to his conduct of the war in Gaza.
While families of some hostages reportedly were traveling with Netanyahu, other relatives who blame his handling of the crisis told the AP they would also be sitting in the chamber.
Some lawmakers who planned to boycott the address said they would spend the time talking with the families of those held by Hamas.
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Multiple protests are planned outside the Capitol, with some picketers criticizing the Israeli military campaign while others are showing support for Israel but pushing Netanyahu to reach a cease-fire deal and bring hostages home.
Why is Netanyahu in D.C.?
Netanyahu arrived in Washington, D.C. on Monday for a several-day visit that included meetings with President Joe Biden and a Wednesday speech before a joint session of Congress.
Biden and Netanyahu are expected to meet Thursday, a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of the White House announcement, told the Associated Press. Vice President Kamala Harris will also meet with Netanyahu separately that day.
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The prime minister’s visit to the U.S. ignited a wave of protest activity, with some demonstrations condemning Israel and others expressing support but pressuring Netanyahu to strike a cease-fire deal and bring home the hostages still being held by Hamas.
His visit comes as the toll of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza nears 40,000. It's also in a week when new deaths were reported among the surviving hostages — who include Israelis, Americans and other nationalities — held by Hamas and other militants since the first hours of the war.
Why is Netanyahu’s visit causing controversy?
Israel’s war has been divisive in the United States, leading to protests and resulting in arrests on college campuses, alienating some voters on both sides of the issue, and frustrating months of effort by Biden to bring the fighting to a close.
According to the Associated Press, the trip is the first time Netanyahu has traveled abroad since the Israel-Hamas conflict began on Oct. 7. It’s also Netanyahu’s first trip since the International Criminal Court said it was seeking his arrest in what it said were possible war crimes in Israel’s offensive in Gaza. Israel denies wrongdoing, and the U.S. does not recognize the ICC.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.