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US Capitol Police arrest 200 people protesting Netanyahu’s visit

US Capitol Police arrest 200 people protesting Netanyahu's visit

Jewish Voice for Peace denounces the arrest of 400 American Jews, including more than a dozen rabbis

Jul 24. (EUROPA PRESS) –

US Capitol Police said Tuesday they had arrested some 200 people protesting outside Congress against a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is due to address lawmakers on Wednesday in the context of the Israeli offensive against the Gaza Strip, which has already left nearly 39,100 Palestinians dead.

“Approximately 200 people have been arrested for District of Columbia Code 22-1307 – Crowding, Obstructing or Inconveniencing – for demonstrating inside the Cannon House office building. Demonstrating inside the Congressional buildings is illegal,” police said on their social media account X.

The officers carried out the arrests after asking the protesters to leave the premises, but they did not listen.

The Jewish Voice for Peace organization, which organized the protest, has denounced the arrest of 400 American Jews, including more than a dozen rabbis, while they called for an “immediate arms embargo” on Israel.

“For nine months, we have watched in horror as the Israeli government has carried out genocide, armed and funded by the US Congress and the Joe Biden Administration, who now have the power to end this horror. Instead, our President is set to meet with Netanyahu and Congressional leaders have honored him with an invitation to address Congress. Enough is enough. Biden and Congress must listen to the people: We need an arms embargo now to save lives,” said Stefanie Fox, executive director of the organization.

Netanyahu arrived in Washington the day before, where he is scheduled to address the US Congress and meet separately with the country’s president, Joe Biden, the vice president, Kamala Harris, as well as with former president Donald Trump.

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