Thousands of protesters gathered in Washington on Wednesday against the war in Gaza and protested a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, chanting “free, free Palestine” before marching to the Capitol before police dispersed some of the crowd. But did pepper spray.
Protesters calling for an end to the war that has killed more than 39,000 Palestinians filled several blocks as they walked the streets of the country’s capital carrying Palestinian flags and signs reading “Netanyahu’s arrest” There were messages like “Stop all US aid to Israel.” “Demonstrators outside Washington’s Union Station removed American flags and replaced them with Palestinian flags to cheers from the crowd.
Before Netanyahu’s speech, some protesters tried to block his way to the Capitol but were pushed off the road by police. After being diverted by officers near the Capitol, protesters wound their way through the Capitol Hill neighborhood for several blocks before gathering in front of a nearby train station.
President Joe Biden and Netanyahu are expected to meet on Thursday, according to a US official who spoke anonymously before the White House announcement. Vice President Harris will also meet Netanyahu separately that day.
As Senate president, Harris usually sits behind foreign leaders who address Congress, but she will be on a visit to Indianapolis on Wednesday, scheduled before Biden withdrew his re-election bid, which made her a potential Democratic presidential candidate.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Truth Social that he will meet with Netanyahu on Friday.