Washington DC – Hours earlier than Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived on the U.S. Capitol to deal with Congress, a girl masking her face with a blue scarf sat alone on a park bench close to Union Station in Washington, D.C., waving holding Palestinian flag.
“We’ll battle for freedom wherever freedom is taken away from us on the planet. We’re related to the Palestinians as a result of we’re American freedom fighters,” the protester, who requested anonymity, advised Al Jazeera on Wednesday.
She was one in all hundreds of protesters who ultimately gathered throughout the capital to protest in opposition to the Israeli prime minister’s speech.
As U.S. lawmakers applauded Netanyahu contained in the Dome, activists exterior referred to as for his trial for abuses associated to Israel’s battle in Gaza. Many imagine Netanyahu is a battle prison who must be in jail, not within the halls of Congress.
Demonstrators held up portraits of a bloodied Netanyahu, waved Palestinian flags and chanted “Free Palestine” because the Israeli prime minister spoke.
Prime Republican and Democratic lawmakers within the Senate and Home of Representatives invited Netanyahu to deal with a joint session of Congress.
Regardless of bipartisan assist, dozens of lawmakers boycotted Wednesday’s speech, echoing considerations expressed by demonstrators.
Irene Ippolito, a protester carrying a purple hood, described the congressional management as “a bunch of sycophants” for bringing Netanyahu to Congress.
“We have to be right here. We have to say, ‘Not in our title,'” Ippolito advised Al Jazeera. “As Americans, we should understand that none of this is able to be potential with out our taxpayer {dollars} sending large quantities of weapons to Israel because it slaughters males, ladies and kids in Gaza.”
She added that the atrocities in Gaza had been “essentially the most documented genocide in human historical past”.
safety measures
Protesters like Ippolito braved summer time warmth, street blockades and heavy police presence to display simply west of the Capitol. Some individuals even got here from everywhere in the nation.
As protests continued, organizers led the march east by way of the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
Earlier this week, regulation enforcement officers sealed off the Capitol with steel fencing.
However on Wednesday morning, they expanded their safety perimeter to disclaim entry to autos and pedestrians approaching the constructing. Closely armed police and safety personnel in riot gear had been seen all through the realm.
Capitol Police stated they deployed pepper spray on activists who “grew to become violent” however gave no additional particulars.
Al Jazeera did witness harsh phrases between police and demonstrators, however no confrontations or bodily violence.
Adam Abusalah, an Arab-American activist from Dearborn, Michigan, stated it was a “shame” that Netanyahu was invited to deal with Congress.
“It is a disgrace that members of each events invited him to talk right here.” Absala advised Al Jazeera at an anti-Netanyahu protest close to the Capitol that presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris was assembly with him. A disgrace.
“What we’re right here to say is that we now have had sufficient. As Individuals, we won’t tolerate this conduct.
Harris, who as vp has the ceremonial position of presiding over the Senate, was attending an occasion in Indianapolis however didn’t attend Netanyahu’s speech on the Capitol.
However she is scheduled to fulfill with him later this week.
The vp is now the doubtless Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race.
The Biden administration has approved greater than $14 billion in army help to Israel to fund the battle whereas offering diplomatic cowl to U.S. allies in worldwide boards.
“He has no proper to be right here”
On Wednesday, some protesters’ anger was directed on the President of the USA. “Biden, Biden, you possibly can’t cover. We cost you with genocide,” they chanted.
Karim, a Palestinian-American protester who spoke on situation of anonymity, stated he wouldn’t assist Harris for president as soon as she turns into Biden’s vp.
As a substitute, he stated he would vote for Inexperienced Get together candidate Jill Stein, who spoke on the demonstration.
Karim, who arrived in Washington, D.C., on a bus with dozens of demonstrators on Wednesday, expressed confusion that Netanyahu had been invited to talk on the Capitol.
“He has no proper to be right here,” he advised Al Jazeera. “We don’t assist battle criminals. We don’t assist genocidal maniacs.
In a speech to U.S. lawmakers, Netanyahu defended Israel’s battle, which has killed greater than 39,000 Palestinians, displaced greater than 80 % of Gaza’s inhabitants and introduced the area to the brink of famine .
He additionally pledged to battle till “full victory” regardless of US-led efforts to safe a ceasefire.
Israel’s prime minister has lashed out at anti-war protesters in the USA, accusing them of siding with Hamas.
“These protesters who stand with them must be ashamed of themselves,” Netanyahu stated.
He additionally referred to as protesters exterior the Capitol “Iranian helpful idiots,” incomes a standing ovation from U.S. lawmakers.
“Hitler II”
On the streets of Washington, D.C., demonstrators had nothing however contempt for the Israeli chief. A number of posters in contrast him to Nazi chief Adolf Hitler.
Protester Sarah Bowles stated prime lawmakers who invited Netanyahu to the U.S. Capitol must be “ashamed” of themselves.
“We must always boycott him. He must be arrested. He must be in The Hague,” she stated, referring to the Dutch metropolis the place the Worldwide Felony Court docket (ICC) is predicated.
ICC prosecutors are searching for arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his protection minister, Yove Galante, for alleged battle crimes in Gaza.
Powers added that she was “drained” of the federal government persevering with to fund and facilitate “genocide” in opposition to Palestinians.
Jenny Bennett, who traveled from Dayton, Ohio, to attend the demonstration, additionally warned Netanyahu.
“He was Hitler’s quantity two,” Bennett advised Al Jazeera. “This isn’t okay. We’re all equal. It is a genocide and it wants to finish instantly.
