The arrival of has touched off a flurry of protests in the nation91裸聊视频檚 capital, 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 pressing Netanyahu to and bring home the hostages still being held by Hamas.
The Capitol Police said about 200 people were arrested Tuesday on charges stemming from the Cannon sit-in. Jewish Voice for Peace said many more than that were arrested, rabbis among them.
Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Monday for a visit that includes meetings with President Joe Biden and a speech Wednesday before a joint session of Congress. Dozens of protesters rallied outside his hotel Monday evening, and on Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of demonstrators staged a flashmob-style protest in the Cannon Building, which houses offices of House of Representatives members.
Organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, protesters wearing red T-shirts that read 91裸聊视频淣ot In Our Name91裸聊视频� took over the building91裸聊视频檚 rotunda, sitting on the floor, unfurling signs and chanting 91裸聊视频淟et Gaza Live!91裸聊视频�
After about a half-hour of protesters91裸聊视频� clapping and chanting, officers from the U.S. Capitol Police issued several warnings, then began arresting demonstrators 91裸聊视频� binding their hands with zip ties and leading them away one by one.
91裸聊视频淚 am the daughter of Holocaust survivors and I know what a Holocaust looks like,91裸聊视频� said Jane Hirschmann, a native of Saugerties, New York, who drove down for the protest along with her two daughters 91裸聊视频� both of whom were arrested. 91裸聊视频淲hen we say 91裸聊视频楴ever Again,91裸聊视频� we mean never for anybody.91裸聊视频�
The demonstrators turned much of their ire on the Biden administration, demanding that the president immediately cease all arms shipments to Israel.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e not focusing on Netanyahu. He91裸聊视频檚 just a symptom,91裸聊视频� Hirschmann said. 91裸聊视频淏ut how can (Biden) be calling for a cease-fire when he91裸聊视频檚 sending them bombs and planes?91裸聊视频�
Mitchell Rivard, chief of staff for Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., said his office called for Capitol Police intervention after the demonstrators 91裸聊视频渂ecame disruptive, violently beating on the office doors, shouting loudly, and attempting to force entry into the office.91裸聊视频�
Kildee later told The Associated Press that he was confused why his office was targeted, given that he had voted against a massive supplemental military aid package to Israel earlier this year.
Families of some of the remaining hostages held a protest vigil 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 91裸聊视频淪eal the Deal NOW!91裸聊视频� chanted 91裸聊视频淏ring Them Home91裸聊视频� and listened to testimonials from relatives and former hostages. The demonstrators applauded when Biden91裸聊视频檚 name was mentioned, but several criticized Netanyahu 91裸聊视频� known by his nickname 91裸聊视频淏ibi91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� on the belief that he was dragging his feet or playing hardball on a proposed cease-fire deal that would return all of the hostages.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 begging Bibi 91裸聊视频� there91裸聊视频檚 a deal on the table and you have to take it,91裸聊视频� said Aviva Siegel, 63, who spent 51 days in captivity and whose husband, Keith, remains a hostage. 91裸聊视频淚 want Bibi to look in my eyes and tell me one thing: that Keith is coming home.91裸聊视频�
Multiple protests are planned for Wednesday, when Netanyahu is slated to address Congress. In anticipation, police have significantly boosted security around the Capitol building and for most of the week.
Biden and Netanyahu are expected to meet Thursday, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity before a White House announcement. Vice President Kamala Harris will also meet Netanyahu separately that day.
Harris, as Senate president, would normally sit behind foreign leaders addressing Congress, but she91裸聊视频檒l be away Wednesday, on an Indianapolis trip scheduled before Biden withdrew his reelection bid and she became the likely Democratic presidential candidate over the weekend.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said on Truth Social that he would meet with Netanyahu on Friday.
