The arrival of has touched off a flurry of protests in the nation鈥檚 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 鈥淣ot In Our Name鈥� took over the building鈥檚 rotunda, sitting on the floor, unfurling signs and chanting 鈥淟et Gaza Live!鈥�
After about a half-hour of protesters鈥� clapping and chanting, officers from the U.S. Capitol Police issued several warnings, then began arresting demonstrators 鈥� binding their hands with zip ties and leading them away one by one.
鈥淚 am the daughter of Holocaust survivors and I know what a Holocaust looks like,鈥� said Jane Hirschmann, a native of Saugerties, New York, who drove down for the protest along with her two daughters 鈥� both of whom were arrested. 鈥淲hen we say 鈥楴ever Again,鈥� we mean never for anybody.鈥�
The demonstrators turned much of their ire on the Biden administration, demanding that the president immediately cease all arms shipments to Israel.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not focusing on Netanyahu. He鈥檚 just a symptom,鈥� Hirschmann said. 鈥淏ut how can (Biden) be calling for a cease-fire when he鈥檚 sending them bombs and planes?鈥�
Mitchell Rivard, chief of staff for Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., said his office called for Capitol Police intervention after the demonstrators 鈥渂ecame disruptive, violently beating on the office doors, shouting loudly, and attempting to force entry into the office.鈥�
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 鈥淪eal the Deal NOW!鈥� chanted 鈥淏ring Them Home鈥� and listened to testimonials from relatives and former hostages. The demonstrators applauded when Biden鈥檚 name was mentioned, but several criticized Netanyahu 鈥� known by his nickname 鈥淏ibi鈥� 鈥� 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.
鈥淚鈥檓 begging Bibi 鈥� there鈥檚 a deal on the table and you have to take it,鈥� said Aviva Siegel, 63, who spent 51 days in captivity and whose husband, Keith, remains a hostage. 鈥淚 want Bibi to look in my eyes and tell me one thing: that Keith is coming home.鈥�
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鈥檒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.
