By Deutsche Welle
24 Jul 2024, 01:38 AM EDT
The United States Capitol Police (USCP) arrested about 200 people on Tuesday for protesting in Congress against the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who will give a speech in the legislature tomorrow.
“Approximately 200 people were arrested for protesting inside the Cannon House building. Protesting inside congressional buildings is illegal,” the USCP noted in X.
Netanyahu was invited by congressional leaders Democrat Chuck Schumer and Republican Mike Johnson.
During his visit to the United States, he will meet with President Joe Biden; the presumptive Democratic candidate for the White House, Vice President Kamala Harris; and former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the White House.
Extreme security measures
This Tuesday’s protest took place at the iconic Congress roundabout, with dozens of people called by the organization “Jewish Voices for Peace” wearing red t-shirts with the message “not in my name.”
Protesters also carried signs reading “Jews tell Congress: Stop arms shipments to Israel” and “No one is free until everyone is free.”
After several warnings to abandon the protest, the Congressional Police began to arrest the protesters.
Numerous protests are expected on Wednesday against Netanyahu’s presence in the federal capitalwhich has increased security measures.
Netanyahu arrives in the US to advance the truce
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began an official visit to the United States on Tuesday, where he will meet with President Joe Biden and senior government officials, with the aim of advancing a truce with the Palestinian movement Hamas, official sources reported.
Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Monday night and met with representatives of the families of the American kidnapped people as well as relatives who traveled with him.
“We are determined to return all of them. The conditions for bringing them back are in place, for the simple reason that we are putting very strong pressure on Hamas,” the prime minister said, according to an Israeli government statement.
According to a US official who spoke to Efe, Biden will meet with Netanyahu next Thursday in the Oval Office of the White House.
Keep reading:
- Trump to host Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago mansion
- Netanyahu arrives in the US to meet with Biden
- Netanyahu announces new negotiations with Hamas to try to free more hostages