The arrival of has touched off a flurry of protests in the nation含羞草研究社檚 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 含羞草研究社淣ot In Our Name含羞草研究社� took over the building含羞草研究社檚 rotunda, sitting on the floor, unfurling signs and chanting 含羞草研究社淟et Gaza Live!含羞草研究社�
After about a half-hour of protesters含羞草研究社� clapping and chanting, officers from the U.S. Capitol Police issued several warnings, then began arresting demonstrators 含羞草研究社� binding their hands with zip ties and leading them away one by one.
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The demonstrators turned much of their ire on the Biden administration, demanding that the president immediately cease all arms shipments to Israel.
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e not focusing on Netanyahu. He含羞草研究社檚 just a symptom,含羞草研究社� Hirschmann said. 含羞草研究社淏ut how can (Biden) be calling for a cease-fire when he含羞草研究社檚 sending them bombs and planes?含羞草研究社�
Mitchell Rivard, chief of staff for Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., said his office called for Capitol Police intervention after the demonstrators 含羞草研究社渂ecame disruptive, violently beating on the office doors, shouting loudly, and attempting to force entry into the office.含羞草研究社�
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 含羞草研究社淪eal the Deal NOW!含羞草研究社� chanted 含羞草研究社淏ring Them Home含羞草研究社� and listened to testimonials from relatives and former hostages. The demonstrators applauded when Biden含羞草研究社檚 name was mentioned, but several criticized Netanyahu 含羞草研究社� known by his nickname 含羞草研究社淏ibi含羞草研究社� 含羞草研究社� 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.
含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 begging Bibi 含羞草研究社� there含羞草研究社檚 a deal on the table and you have to take it,含羞草研究社� said Aviva Siegel, 63, who spent 51 days in captivity and whose husband, Keith, remains a hostage. 含羞草研究社淚 want Bibi to look in my eyes and tell me one thing: that Keith is coming home.含羞草研究社�
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 she含羞草研究社檒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.
