Protesters outside Washington’s Union Station, demanding the US halt military aid to Israel, raised Palestinian flags and burned American ones during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit. Nearby, police used pepper spray on some of the thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside the US Capitol while Netanyahu addressed Congress.
Netanyahu, seeking US support for Israel’s Gaza war efforts, outlined a vague plan for a “deradicalized” post-war Gaza and discussed a potential future alliance with America’s Arab allies. He was scheduled to meet President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Donald Trump in the following days.
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Before Netanyahu’s speech, US Capitol Police reported that protesters attempted to cross a blockade and did not comply with orders to step back, leading to the use of pepper spray. Protesters, including Sarah Bowles from Delaware, claimed police used excessive force.
Pro-Palestinian groups and university students have been protesting in the US for months against Israel’s offensive in Gaza, where nearly 40,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed. The military action followed a Hamas attack on October 7, which resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and about 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Despite mediation by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains elusive.
Netanyahu Condemns Demonstrators
During his speech to Congress, Netanyahu addressed the protesters, accusing them of being “Iran’s useful idiots,” a Cold War term for those manipulated for political ends. He criticized the protesters for being praised and funded by Tehran, which he condemned for its human rights abuses.
Protesters rejected these accusations, asserting their demonstrations are a reaction to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where nearly all of its 2.3 million residents have been displaced. At the protest site near the Capitol, banners labeled Netanyahu a “Wanted War Criminal,” referencing an arrest warrant sought by the International Criminal Court, which Netanyahu denies.
Protesters displayed nearly 30 human-size cardboard coffins wrapped in Palestinian flags and blocked traffic on nearby roads. Bradley Cullinan, who traveled from Columbus, Ohio, demanded that all aid to Israel be suspended. Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon criticized the Gaza death toll, asserting that freedom is incomplete until everyone is free.
Several Democratic lawmakers boycotted Netanyahu’s speech in protest of the Gaza crisis. Ultra-Orthodox Jewish group members and younger protesters displayed Palestinian flags and banners urging an end to arming Israel and stopping war crimes. ICC prosecutors claim there is evidence suggesting Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders are responsible for alleged war crimes.
