WASHINGTON, USA: Activists opposing Israel’s war in Gaza and the U.S. support for Israel plan to protest at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit. Netanyahu is scheduled to address a joint session of the US Congress on July 24 and meet President Joe Biden.
Protests have been organized by a coalition of groups, including ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), CodePink, the Palestinian American Community Center, and Jewish Voice for Peace. These groups have expressed strong opposition to U.S. military support for Israel amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Gaza health authorities report that the conflict has resulted in the deaths of at least 38,983 Palestinians, mostly women and children, displaced nearly all of its 2.3 million residents, and caused a hunger crisis. Israel’s military actions followed an October 7 attack by Hamas militants that killed 1,200 Israelis and took approximately 250 hostages.
Despite calls for a ceasefire, President Biden has continued to provide military support to Israel. This has prompted sustained protests from pro-Palestinian groups and college students across the U.S.
The U.S. Capitol Police are preparing for a large turnout at the protests, with additional security measures in place. They have planned to increase the number of officers on duty, including support from several outside agencies. A flyer for the event urges participants to form a “People’s Red Line around the Capitol building,” criticizing the U.S. government for not setting strict limits on its support for Israel given the conflict’s high death toll.
