Protests seek to overshadow Netanyahu’s visit to US Congress

The visit scheduled for this Wednesday by the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to the United States Capitol has been marked by various demonstrations that were organized by activists and some legislators. The Israeli president will give a speech with which he seeks to gather support for the war against Hamas in Gaza.

Several organizations called for a boycott of Netanyahu’s speech at a joint session of the two legislative chambers. Police were already heavily deployed around the building, while barriers prevented pedestrians from entering. Protesters were also beginning to arrive, many of them carrying Palestinian flags.

“As the genocidal war in Palestine continues, the US government has made unequivocally clear its support for Israel, funding some of the worst war crimes we have seen in the 21st century,” some of the activists said in the messages calling for action.

Law enforcement officers from cities near Washington arrived at the Capitol building early in the morning to secure the area in anticipation of the massive influx of protesters.

New York City Police announced that some 200 officers have been sworn in as Capitol Police Special Officers as part of the security reinforcements in the US capital.

Around noon in Washington, hundreds of protesters were on one of the main avenues leading to the Capitol next to a platform with messages in English reading “Liberate Palestine.”

Some of those present were wearing red clothing in reference to the “red line” that Israel claims it has crossed in its Gaza offensive.

Netanyahu’s visit comes as Fighting continues in Gaza and the threat of a wider regional conflict persists with clashes along the Israel-Lebanon border and Houthi militants from Yemen attacking ships in the Red Sea.

Several Democratic lawmakers have said they will not attend the session where Netanyahu will speak, in response to criticism from their Republican peers.

Republican Congressman Carlos Giménez told the Voice of America that Netanyahu’s visit “is very important because Israel is our most important ally in the Middle East and he is involved in a war now against terrorism.”

The Florida lawmaker said that those protesting “in support of Hamas are protesting in the wrong way.” The protesters, however, have said that their message is in support of the citizens of Gaza who have been impacted by the conflict.

According to Health Ministry records in Gaza, more than 39,000 Palestinians have died since Israel launched its air and ground offensive on the enclave, in response to the Hamas surprise attack on October 7 2023. On that day, Palestinian extremists killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli counts.

Meeting with Biden and Harris

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s agenda in Washington will continue on Thursday with a visit to the White House where he will meet with President Biden. Administration officials said the leaders “will discuss developments in Gaza and progress toward a ceasefire agreement and hostage release and the United States’ unwavering commitment to Israel’s security.”

He will then meet with families of Americans held hostage by Hamas. Vice President Kamala Harris, who this week began her campaign for the Democratic Party nomination as a candidate for the upcoming November elections, will also meet separately with the prime minister.

Harris will not chair the joint session where Netanyahu will speak. With this speech to Congress in Washington, the Israeli prime minister will become the first foreign leader to address American lawmakers four times, surpassing Britain’s Winston Churchill.

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