July 2024 protests against Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington, D.C.

Last updated

Contents

Over the span of two days in July 2024, a series of protests against the United States' involvement in the Israel–Hamas war occurred in Washington D.C. [1] [2] [3] The protests coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the United States and giving a speech to a joint session of the United States Congress. [4] 23 people in total were arrested by police. [5]

Protests

On 23 July, hundreds of Jewish Voice for Peace protestors held a sit-in protest inside the United States Capitol; 400 of these protestors were arrested. [6] [7]

On 24 July 2024, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Washington, D.C., to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the United States and his joint address made in Congress. The main demonstration was organized by the ANSWER Coalition, the Palestinian Youth Movement, the People's Forum, and the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, among other groups. [8] Members of Neturei Karta, an anti-Zionist Jewish sect, also participated. [9]

Prior to the speech, groups of protesters demonstrated near the Capitol before police pushed them away using pepper spray after they reported that sections of the crowd grew violent while failing to obey police orders. Many of the protesters turned away from the Capitol would gather in front of Union Station to demonstrate. Six intersections leading to the Capitol were blocked by protestors attempting to block Netanyahu's route. [10] At least four protesters were apprehended by police, with one officer taking and throwing aside a Palestinian flag held by a woman. [11] The United States Capitol Police deployed pepper spray during one instance of the crowd "starting to become violent" and refusing to obey police commands, two protesters were treated for pepper spray but no other injuries were reported. [12] [13] Several American flags were replaced with Palestinian flags at Union Station Plaza and in Columbus Circle, and at least one American flag was burned. [14] Protesters heavily defaced the Freedom Bell outside of Union Station with spray paint and markers, writing messages including "End colonialism", "Hind's Hall", "Fuck America", "Welcome to the Intifada", "Anarchy 2025", and "This is Biden's legacy". [15]

Protesters burned an effigy of Netanyahu, while a papier-mâché effigy of United States President Joe Biden was presented to the group of demonstrators bearing devil horns and bloodied hands, representing his policies said to have enabled and made possible Netanyahu's military actions and war crimes towards the Gaza Strip. Other demonstrators climbed onto the Columbus Fountain near Union Station and used spray paint to write graffiti onto the monument. Writings included large lettering in red spray paint stating "Hamas is coming" and green paint stating "Free Gaza". [11] Other messages written on the sculpture included "Long live the resistance", "All Zionists are bastards", "Fuck Fascism!" and "Free Palestine", as well as several inverted red triangles representing the Palestinian flag. [15] Demonstrators also spray painted several other statues in Columbus Circle with the words "Free Gaza". [14]

A group of pro-Israel but anti-Netanyahu protestors also rallied in the area. [14] Relatives of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during October 7 were forcibly removed from Congress after their attempt at protesting against Netanyahu, and some were arrested. [16]

Watergate Hotel

Protestors released groups of maggots, mealworms, and crickets into the Watergate Hotel where Netanyahu was staying, including onto a table that he planned to use. [17]

In the Capitol

Capitol Police made a public statement reporting that they arrested six people who entered the House gallery without permission to disrupt Netanyahu's joint address. [11] Kamala Harris condemned the "despicable acts and dangerous hate-fueled rhetoric" by demonstrators who rioted outside the capitol expressing support for Hamas and burning American flags. [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benjamin Netanyahu</span> Prime Minister of Israel (1996–1999; 2009–2021; since 2022)

Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician who has been serving as the prime minister of Israel since 2022, having previously held the office from 1996 to 1999 and from 2009 to 2021. Netanyahu is the longest-serving prime minister in Israel's history, having served a total of over 17 years.

Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) is a non-profit, student-based organization based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It gained a wide profile after instigating a protest in Concordia University, that forced the Israeli ex-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel a speech that was to take place on 9 September 2002. Rama Al-Malah serves as its spokesperson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Concordia University Netanyahu riot</span> 2002 pro-Palestinian demonstration in Montreal, Canada

On September 9, 2002, a riot broke out at the Sir George Williams Campus of Concordia University in the Canadian city of Montreal in anticipation of a visit from Israeli former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The visit, to be held at noon in the Henry F. Hall Building, was cancelled after pro-Palestinian students attacked people who were attempting to attend the event and hear Netanyahu's speech. Netanyahu had been invited by the Jewish student organization Hillel. Several hundred demonstrators blocked the event's attendees from entering the building.

Events in the year 2021 in Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Israel–Palestine crisis</span> Part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

The 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, sometimes called the Unity Intifada, was a major outbreak of violence in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict that mainly commenced on 10 May 2021, and continued until a ceasefire came into effect on 21 May. It was marked by protests and police riot control, rocket attacks on Israel by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. The crisis was triggered on 6 May, when Palestinians in East Jerusalem began protesting over an anticipated decision of the Supreme Court of Israel on the eviction of six Palestinian families in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. Under international law, the area, effectively annexed by Israel in 1980, is a part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank; On 7 May, according to Israel's Channel 12, Palestinians threw stones at Israeli police forces, who then stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound using tear gas, rubber bullets, and stun grenades. The crisis prompted protests around the world as well as official reactions from world leaders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International protests over the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis</span>

There were a series of international protests over a May 2021 flare-up of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. A ceasefire of the hostilities was agreed upon on 20 May.

The year 2023 in Israel was defined first by wide-scale protests against a proposed judicial reform, and then by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, which led to a war and to Israel invading the Gaza Strip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaza war protests</span> Protests relating to the Gaza war

The Gaza war has sparked protests, demonstrations, and vigils around the world. These events focused on a variety of issues related to the conflict, including demands for a ceasefire, an end to the Israeli blockade and occupation, return of Israeli hostages, protesting war crimes, and providing humanitarian aid to Gaza. Since the war began on 7 October 2023, the death toll has exceeded 40,000.


Since 7 October 2023, numerous violent incidents prompted by the Hamas attack on Israel and the ensuing Gaza war have been reported worldwide. They have accompanied a sharp increase in global antisemitism and Islamophobia, as well as anti-Israeli sentiment and anti-Palestinian sentiment or broader anti-Arab sentiment. Other people and groups have also been targeted, such as the Sikhs, who are commonly mistaken to be Muslims by their attackers.

The 2023 Democratic National Committee protests were a pro-Palestine protest turned violent. The protest organizers, the Jewish Voice for Peace and the IfNotNow movement as well as other Pro-Palestinian protesters arrived outside the DNC building on 430 South Capitol St. SE at 6:40 pm after a candlelight vigil at 3rd Street and Maryland Avenue SW. The protest forced Capitol Police to shut down several roads in the area as officers tried to deal with the protesters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaza war protests in the United States</span> Protests relating to the Israel–Hamas war

Protests, including rallies, demonstrations, campaigns, and vigils, relating to the Gaza war have occurred nationwide across the United States since the conflict's start on October 7, 2023, occurring as part of a broader phenomenon of the Gaza war protests around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaza war protests in Israel</span> Protests related to the Israel–Hamas war in Israel

As a result of the Gaza war, nationwide protests have occurred across Israel, including rallies, demonstrations, campaigns, and vigils. These demonstrations occurred as part of broader war-related protests occurring worldwide. Israelis domestically and abroad have primarily called for the return of hostages held by Hamas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">March on Washington for Gaza</span> Protest in January 2024

The March on Washington for Gaza was a protest on January 13, 2024, in response to the Israel–Hamas war, to call for a ceasefire in the conflict. The march was organized by the American Muslim Task Force for Palestine, Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR), and other groups. The date was chosen to coincide nearly 100 days of war. Similar marches were held around the globe, including in London as part of a global day of protest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palestinian Youth Movement</span> International organization

The Palestinian Youth Movement is a pro-Palestinian, anti-Zionist, socialist, and anti-imperialist organization with chapters across North America and Europe. The group has participated in political actions with the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), a communist party in the United States, and the ANSWER Coalition. It is mainly composed of Palestinian and Arab youth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Kingdom support for Israel in the Gaza war</span>

Following the outbreak of the Gaza war on 7 October 2023, the United Kingdom has provided Israel with extensive military and diplomatic support. In response to the 7 October attacks, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak asserted that the United Kingdom "unequivocally" stands with Israel. The UK also issued an "unequivocal condemnation" of Palestinian militant group Hamas and deployed British Armed Forces personnel and assets to the Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 University of Virginia pro-Palestinian campus occupation</span> Pro-Palestinian student protests in Virginia, US

In May 2024, peaceful pro-Palestinian student protesters at the University of Virginia (UVa) demonstrated on the campus. The protesters organized an anti-war occupation on university grounds in support of Palestinian nationalism in the context of the mass death and displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians during the Israel–Hamas war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 visit by Benjamin Netanyahu to the United States</span> Bilateral meeting between the leaders of Israel and the United States

In July 2024, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington, D.C. to hold meetings with senior officials and deliver a speech to the United States Congress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 University of Texas at Austin pro-Palestinian campus protests</span> Starting on April 24, 2024

Pro-Palestinian protests at the University of Texas at Austin began on April 24, 2024, organized by the Palestinian Solidarity Committee in response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. The protests have included sit-ins, marches, and encampments on campus, calling for the university to divest from companies linked to Israel's actions in Gaza. The demonstrations escalated when university officials, with support from local and state law enforcement, intervened to disperse protestors, leading to multiple arrests and sparking criticism over the suppression of free speech on campus. Despite arrests and clashes with police, the protests have continued, drawing significant attention and raising debates about civil liberties and the role of university administration in managing campus protests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">September 2024 Israel hostage deal protests</span>

On 1 September 2024, protests began in Israel after the Israel Defense Forces stated it had recovered six dead hostages taken by Hamas during its attack on Israel in October 2023, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin. At least 4 were Injured and 36 were arrested.

The following is a list of events of the year 2024 in Washington, D.C..

References

  1. ↑ "Live updates: Netanyahu vows in speech to Congress to press on with war in Gaza until 'total victory,' sparking protests". AP News. Associated Press. 24 July 2024.
  2. ↑ Silverman, Ellie; Gathright, Jenny; Williams, Clarence; Chu, Hau; Heim, Joe (24 July 2024). "Thousands protest Netanyahu's D.C. visit and Israel-Gaza war". Washington Post.
  3. ↑ "Police use pepper spray in Netanyahu protest outside US Capitol". Reuters . Retrieved 24 July 2024. Protests were peaceful for the first few hours until about half an hour before the speech when demonstrators began a march and faced a blockade from police who used pepper spray, injuring some protesters.
  4. ↑ "Live updates: Benjamin Netanyahu scolds critics of Israel's war in Gaza in speech to Congress". The Washington Post . 24 July 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  5. ↑ Silverman, Ellie; Gathright, Jenny; Williams, Clarence; Chu, Hau; Davies, Emily; Heim, Joe (2024-07-25). "U.S. flag set ablaze, 23 arrested as thousands protest Netanyahu's D.C. visit". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  6. ↑ "'Let Gaza live': Anti-Netanyahu demonstrators hold sit-in protest at congressional offices". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2024-07-24. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  7. ↑ "400 Jewish pro-Gaza Protesters arrested in US Capitol". Middle East Monitor. 24 July 2024.
  8. ↑ Silverman, Ellie; Gathright, Jenny; Williams, Clarence; Chu, Hau; Heim, Joe (24 July 2024). "Thousands protest Netanyahu's D.C. visit and Israel-Gaza war". Washington Post.
  9. ↑ "Thousands protest near US Capitol against Netanyahu's speech to Congress". The Times of Israel. 24 July 2024.
  10. ↑ "Photos: Protesters rally in Washington, DC before Netanyahu speech". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  11. 1 2 3 "Thousands fill Washington's streets to protest Israel's war in Gaza during Netanyahu visit". AP News. 2024-07-24. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  12. ↑ McGrath, Megan; Valencia, Juliana (24 July 2024). "Capitol Police pepper spray DC protesters as Israel's Netanyahu addresses Congress". NBC4 Washington . NBC . Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  13. ↑ Bacon, John; Ortiz, Jorge L.; Cann, Christopher; Mayes-Osterman, Cybele. "Police deploy pepper spray as Netanyahu protesters converge on Capitol". USA Today . Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  14. 1 2 3 Mayes-Osterman, Cybele; L. Ortiz, Jorge; Bacon, John; Cann, Christopher. "Police deploy pepper spray as Netanyahu protesters converge on Capitol". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  15. 1 2 Adragna, Anthony (24 July 2024). "Republicans condemn Netanyahu protesters for burning US flags — and waving Hamas ones instead". Politico. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  16. ↑ Magid, Jacob (2024-07-24). "Several hostage family members removed from Congress, detained". Times of Israel. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  17. ↑ Nazzaro, Miranda (2024-07-24). "Watergate Hotel 'has been sanitized' after maggots released to protest Netanyahu stay". The Hill. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  18. ↑ Magid, Jacob (2024-07-25). "Harris blasts 'despicable acts' after anti-Israel protesters back Hamas, burn US flag". Times of Israel.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.