WASHINGTON: Thousands of protesters gathered in Washington on Wednesday to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit, who is accused of genocide in Gaza, and call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, as the Israeli premier prepared to address the US Congress.
Carrying Palestinian flags and signs ranging from left-wing slogans to Bible verses and condemning Netanyahu, demonstrators voiced their opposition to the Israeli leader’s policies and actions amid the ongoing brutal bombardment campaign in Gaza.
“The hypocrisy of our politicians today has gone beyond any limits,” remarked Mo, a 58-year-old protester, highlighting the growing discontent with US support for Israel amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “Arrest that war criminal,” read a banner.
Netanyahu’s visit to Washington comes amidst a sharp increase in civilian casualties in Gaza, prompting protests across the United States and heightened scrutiny from President Joe Biden’s administration. Despite mounting criticism, US military aid to Israel has continued unabated.
Protesters outside the Capitol demanded a ceasefire and criticized Netanyahu’s appearance before US lawmakers.
Signs at the demonstration included scriptural references urging peace and others portraying Netanyahu as a wanted criminal, reflecting widespread condemnation of his leadership and policies.
“We are horrified by the destruction of the health system in Gaza,” said Karameh Kuemmerle of Doctors Against Genocide. Kuemmerle, who traveled from Boston to participate in the protest, condemned Netanyahu’s role in the violence and urged accountability for the impact on civilians.
“And we are here to show our opposition to having the criminal Netanyahu come to our capital and being greeted by the politicians who sent him weapons to kill children in Gaza,” the doctor said.
Since October 7 last year, Israel has launched a relentless bombardment campaign in Gaza killing at least 39,145 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to figures from the territory’s health ministry.
Israel has recently intensified its attacks on Gaza and Netanyahu has insisted that only piling on military pressure can free the hostages and defeat Hamas.
Washington has been increasingly critical of Israel’s prosecution of the nine-month war in the narrow coastal territory, while protests in Israel by families of hostages are also causing headaches for Netanyahu at home.
Netanyahu’s address to Congress aimed to rally support amid a fractured US political landscape and growing opposition to his policies. His speech marked a diplomatic effort to shore up bipartisan backing for Israel amidst international criticism.
READ ALSO: Israeli Shelling in Gaza Humanitarian Zone Kills 16, Evacuation Ordered
President Biden, set to meet with Netanyahu on Thursday, has emphasized US commitment to Israel’s security while advocating for progress towards a ceasefire and humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza.
Vice President Kamala Harris, while scheduled to meet with Netanyahu separately, did not attend his speech due to prior engagements.
Netanyahu will also meet with Trump — with whose administration he had a much less fraught relationship than Biden’s — in Florida on Friday.
Netanyahu has lost backing among some liberal lawmakers, including independent Senator Bernie Sanders, who said Tuesday that “Netanyahu should not be welcomed into the US Congress.”
Several other senior Democrats — from Senate number two Dick Durban to influential former House speaker Nancy Pelosi — joined multiple members of the rank-and-file in announcing they would be skipping the speech.
On Wednesday, hours before the address, scores of protesters started gathering downtown, where Palestinian flags had been taped to street lights.
They waved banners exhorting America to “End all US aid to Israel” and assailing Netanyahu as a “war criminal” alongside a mugshot of the Israeli premier.
