Washington, DC – Hours earlier than Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the USA Capitol to ship a speech to Congress, a girl with a blue scarf concealing her face sat alone on a park bench and waved a Palestinian flag close to Union Station in Washington, DC.
“We are going to battle for freedom wherever it’s being denied all around the world. We join with the Palestinians as a result of we’re freedom fighters right here in America,” the lone protester, who requested to stay nameless, informed Al Jazeera on Wednesday.
She was one of many hundreds of protesters who would in the end collect throughout the capital metropolis to show towards the Israeli prime minister’s speech.
As US legislators clapped for Netanyahu contained in the domed edifice, activists exterior referred to as for him to be tried for abuses linked to Israel’s battle in Gaza. Many argued that Netanyahu is a battle felony who belongs in jail, not within the halls of Congress.
The demonstrators held effigies of a blood-stained Netanyahu, waved Palestinian flags and chanted “free Palestine” because the Israeli prime minister spoke.
Prime Republican and Democratic legislators in each the Senate and Home of Representatives invited Netanyahu to talk earlier than the joint session of Congress.
However regardless of the bipartisan present of help, dozens of lawmakers boycotted the deal with on Wednesday, echoing considerations voiced by the demonstrators.
Irene Ippolito, a protester draped in a purple keffiyeh, described the congressional management as a “bunch of sycophants” for bringing Netanyahu to Congress.
“We must be out right here. We have to say, ‘Not in our identify’,” Ippolito informed Al Jazeera. “As Americans, we now have to understand that this might not be happening with out our taxpayer {dollars} sending tonnes of weapons to Israel because it slaughters males, ladies and youngsters in Gaza.”
She added that the atrocities in Gaza are the “most documented genocide in human historical past”.
Safety measures
Protesters like Ippolito braved searing summer season warmth, blocked roads and a heavy police presence as they descended on the location of the demonstration, simply west of the Capitol. Some even arrived from throughout the nation.
Because the protest continued, organisers led a march east by way of the Capitol Hill neighbourhood.
Regulation enforcement brokers had cordoned off the Capitol with a steel fence earlier this week.
However on Wednesday morning, they enlarged the safety perimeter, turning away automobiles and pedestrians that approached the constructing. Clusters of closely armed officers and safety brokers in riot gear could possibly be seen throughout the realm.
Capitol Police mentioned they deployed pepper spray in the direction of activists who had “change into violent” with out offering additional particulars.
Al Jazeera did witness exchanges of harsh phrases between officers and demonstrators, however no clashes or bodily violence.
Adam Abusalah, an Arab American activist from Dearborn, Michigan, mentioned it’s a “disgrace” that Netanyahu was invited to talk to Congress.
“It’s a shame that members from each events have invited him to talk right here. It’s a shame that Kamala Harris, the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Social gathering, will meet with him,” Abusalah informed Al Jazeera at an anti-Netanyahu protest close to the Capitol.
“We’re right here to say sufficient is sufficient. As Individuals, we won’t stand for that.”
Harris — who, as vice chairman, has the ceremonial position of presiding over the Senate — was at an occasion in Indianapolis and didn’t attend Netanyahu’s deal with on the Capitol.
However she is about to fulfill with him later this week.
The vice chairman is now the possible nominee of the Democratic Social gathering after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race.
The Biden administration has authorised greater than $14bn in army support to Israel to assist fund the battle effort whereas providing the US ally diplomatic cowl at worldwide boards.
‘He has no proper to be right here’
A number of the protesters’ anger on Wednesday was directed on the US president. “Biden, Biden you possibly can’t disguise. We cost you with genocide,” they chanted.
Karim, a Palestinian American protester who wished to be recognized by his first identify solely, mentioned he wouldn’t help Harris for the presidency after she had served as Biden’s vice chairman.
As an alternative, he mentioned he would vote for Inexperienced Social gathering candidate Jill Stein, who spoke on the demonstration.
Karim arrived in Washington, DC, on a bus with dozens of demonstrators on Wednesday, and he expressed bewilderment that Netanyahu was invited to talk on the Capitol.
“He has no proper to be right here,” he informed Al Jazeera. “We don’t help criminals of battle. We don’t help genocidal maniacs.”
In his remarks to US lawmakers, Netanyahu defended the Israeli battle, which has killed greater than 39,000 Palestinians, displaced greater than 80 % of Gaza’s inhabitants and introduced the territory to the verge of famine.
He additionally pledged to battle till “whole victory” regardless of US-led efforts to safe a ceasefire deal.
The Israeli prime minister hit out at antiwar protesters within the US, accusing them of siding with Hamas.
“These protesters that stand with them, they need to be ashamed of themselves,” Netanyahu mentioned.
He additionally referred to as the protesters exterior the Capitol “Iran’s helpful idiots”, incomes a standing ovation from US legislators.
‘Hitler quantity two’
On the streets of Washington, DC, the demonstrators had nothing however contempt for the Israeli chief. A number of posters in contrast him to Nazi chief Adolf Hitler.
Protester Sarah Bowls mentioned the highest legislators who invited Netanyahu to the US Capitol needs to be “ashamed” of themselves.
“We needs to be boycotting him. He needs to be arrested. He needs to be at The Hague,” she mentioned, referring to the Dutch metropolis the place the Worldwide Felony Court docket (ICC) relies.
ICC prosecutors are searching for arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his Protection Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged battle crimes in Gaza.
Bowls added that she is “sick” of her authorities persevering with to fund and allow “genocide” towards Palestinians.
Jenny Bennett, who travelled from Dayton, Ohio, to hitch the demonstration, additionally admonished Netanyahu.
“He’s Hitler quantity two,” Bennett informed Al Jazeera. “This isn’t OK. We’re all equal. This can be a genocide, and it wants to finish — now.”
