
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators near the U.S. Capitol before Netanyahu delivers a speech to Congress, July 24, 2024, in Washington. (Credit: Andrew Thomas/AFP)
Thousands of protesters gathered Wednesday around the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., to protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech and call for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by more than nine months of conflict.
The crowd, waving numerous Palestinian flags, assembled around the Capitol in the heart of the U.S. capital. With slogans such as “Free Palestine,” they voiced their anger over the arrival of the Israeli leader. The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor has requested an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
“We are here to show our opposition to the reception of the criminal Netanyahu in our capital by the same political leaders who send him weapons to kill children in Gaza,” Karameh Kuemmerle from Doctors Against Genocide told AFP.
“We are horrified by the destruction of the healthcare system in Gaza,” he added.
The Palestinian territory has been under siege and relentlessly bombarded by the Israeli military since the unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
Netanyahu is scheduled to speak at 6:00 PM GMT before a divided U.S. Congress regarding his handling of the Gaza conflict. He will attempt to exert pressure on the United States amid a relatively tense relationship between the two countries. The U.S. remains Israel's primary ally and principal military supporter.
“The hypocrisy of politicians has completely gone beyond the limits,” said Mo, a 58-year-old protester who declined to give his full name. He views American support for Israel as “the number one issue” in the upcoming November presidential election in the United States.
“Seek peace and pursue it,” reads one sign, quoting the Bible.
Protesters displayed Netanyahu’s image on a “wanted” poster, while others urged: “Stop this war criminal.”
The Israeli Prime Minister is expected to meet with President Joe Biden on Thursday. He will also meet Vice President Kamala Harris, now a Democratic presidential candidate, and Republican candidate Donald Trump.
On Oct. 7, Hamas militants infiltrated from Gaza into southern Israel and launched an attack that killed 1,197 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli data.
In response, Israel initiated an aerial and then ground campaign against the impoverished and overcrowded territory, leading to a humanitarian disaster with 39,145 deaths so far, predominantly civilians, according to data from the Health Ministry of Gaza.