Protesters rallied outside Washington’s Union Station, waving Palestinian flags and burning American ones, in opposition to a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The demonstrations were part of a larger protest movement against U.S. military aid to Israel.
Nearby, at the U.S. Capitol, police used pepper spray on some of the thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators who had gathered while Netanyahu addressed Congress. During his speech, Netanyahu outlined a vague plan for a “deradicalized” post-war Gaza and proposed a future alliance between Israel and America’s Arab allies.
Netanyahu was scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday, and former President Donald Trump on Friday. Prior to his speech, U.S. Capitol Police reported that some protesters tried to cross a blockade and did not comply with orders to step back, leading to the use of pepper spray.
Protesters, including university students and pro-Palestinian groups, have been actively demonstrating against Israel’s actions in Gaza. The recent conflict, which began with a Hamas attack on October 7, resulted in over 1,200 Israeli deaths and around 250 hostages taken. In response, Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza, where nearly 40,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed. Despite mediation efforts by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has not yet been achieved.
During his Congressional address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the protesters, accusing them of being “useful idiots” for Iran, referencing the regime’s human rights abuses. He labeled their demonstrations as part of Iran’s political agenda.
The protesters countered, arguing that their actions were a response to the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where nearly 2.3 million people have been displaced. At the protest site near the Capitol, a stage displayed banners calling Netanyahu a “Wanted War Criminal” in relation to an arrest warrant sought by the International Criminal Court (ICC), though Netanyahu denies these allegations. Nearby, demonstrators placed about 30 life-sized cardboard coffins draped in Palestinian flags, and traffic was restricted in several roads around the Capitol.
Bradley Cullinan, who traveled from Columbus, Ohio, called for a suspension of all U.S. aid to Israel due to its actions in Gaza. Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon condemned the high death toll in Gaza, stating, “No one is free until everyone is free.”
Several Democratic lawmakers chose to skip Netanyahu’s speech in Congress, expressing concern over the deaths and the humanitarian crisis affecting Gaza. Members of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish group joined the protests, carrying Palestinian flags and signs reading “Free Palestine” and “Anti-Zionism is not antisemitism.” Meanwhile, younger protesters danced to Arabic music and held banners with slogans like “Stop Arming Israel” and “Stop War Crimes in Gaza.”
The ICC prosecutors have indicated that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Al-Masri, and Ismail Haniyeh could be criminally responsible for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
