While Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered his speech in US Congress this Wednesday, massive protests took shape in many streets in Washington, including in front of Capitol Hill and the White House.
This Wednesday morning, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered his long speech at the US Congress in Washington, speaking mostly of Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, the threat of war with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, and the necessity of standing against Iran on an international scale.
But at the very same time as he was speaking to the US lawmakers on Capitol Hill, thousands of protestors were marching across many streets in DC. To show their anger towards Netanyahu for his brutal war against Palestinians in Gaza.
Protestors demanded an immediate end to the Gaza war in which Israel has so far killed more than 39,000 Palestinians, chanting “Free, Free Palestine” as they filled blocks of city streets, with many of them gathering in front of the US Congress building and the White House.
Many also condemned Netanyahu’s inability to free Israeli and American hostages taken by Hamas and other militants during the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the war.
Police restored to violence against protestors
To disperse the protestors, US police restored to violence by using pepper spray and arresting several demonstrators. Protestors marched toward the Capitol but were blocked by police from getting too close to the building. Then they headed toward Union Station, where protesters removed American flags outside the rail terminal and hoisted Palestinian flags in their place.
U.S. Capitol Police said in a post on X before 2 p.m.: “Part of the crowd has started to become violent at First Street and Constitution Avenue, NW. The crowd failed to obey our order to move back from our police line. We are deploying pepper spray towards anyone trying to break the law and cross that line.”
On many other streets in Washington, thousands of people weaved through streets carrying Palestinian flags and signs with messages such as “Arrest Netanyahu” and “End all U.S. aid to Israel.”
“Bibi, Bibi, We’re not done! The intifada has just begun!” they shouted, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname. Other protesters chanted, “Netanyahu, you can’t hide. You’re committing genocide.”
No ear to listen to protestors!
Despite many Americans in Washington disapproving of Netanyahu’s presence in Congress, he finally made the appearance after delaying the event several times. Netanyahu praised US-Israeli unity and lauded Biden for his full support nine months into the war in Gaza.
“America and Israel must stand together. When we stand together something really simple happens: we win, they lose,” said Netanyahu, who wore a yellow pin expressing solidarity with the Israeli hostages held by Hamas. He lambasted American protesters of the war as “useful idiots” of Iran.
During his speech, lawmakers of both parties rose repeatedly to applaud the Israeli leader, while security escorted out protesters in the gallery who rose to display
Addressing the numerous protestors, Netanyahu accused them of standing with the militants who he said killed babies in Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7. “These protesters that stand with them, they should be ashamed of themselves,” he said.
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