The arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has touched off a flurry of protests in Washington, including a sit-in at a congressional office building that ended with multiple arrests. Some of the demonstrations have condemned Israel, but others have expressed support while pressuring Netanyahu to strike a ceasefire deal and bring home the hostages still being held by Hamas.
Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Monday for a visit that was to include a speech before a joint session of the US Congress yesterday, as well as meetings with US President Joe Biden.
Dozens of protesters rallied outside his hotel on Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon, while hundreds of demonstrators staged a flashmob-style protest in the Cannon House Office Building, which houses offices of US House of Representatives.
Photo: AP
Organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, protesters wearing red T-shirts that read “Not In Our Name” took over the building’s rotunda, sitting on the floor, unfurling signs and chanting “Let Gaza Live.”
After about a half-hour of clapping and chanting, officers from the US Capitol Police issued several warnings, then began arresting protesters — binding their hands with zip ties and leading them away one by one.
“I am the daughter of Holocaust survivors and I know what a Holocaust looks like,” said Jane Hirschmann, a native of Saugerties, New York, who drove down for the protest along with her two daughters — both of whom were arrested. “When we say: ‘Never Again,’ we mean never for anybody.”
Photo: Reuters
The demonstrators focused much of their ire on the Biden administration, demanding that the president immediately cease all arms shipments to Israel.
As of 8pm on Tuesday night, Capitol Police said they did not have a final tally of the number of people arrested, but Jewish Voice for Peace said in a statement that 400 people, “including over a dozen rabbis,” had been arrested.
Families of some of the remaining hostages held a protest vigil on Tuesday evening on the National Mall, demanding that Netanyahu come to terms with Hamas and bring home the approximately 120 Israeli hostages remaining in Gaza.
About 150 people wearing yellow shirts that read “Seal the Deal NOW” chanted “Bring Them Home” and listened to testimonials from relatives and former hostages.
Multiple protests were planned for yesterday, while Netanyahu was slated to address Congress.
Biden and Netanyahu are expected to meet today, a US official said, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the White House announcement.
US Vice President Kamala Harris is also to meet Netanyahu separately today, while former US president and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he would meet with Netanyahu tomorrow.
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