On Monday, Netanyahu arrived in Washington and is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden. He will also address a joint session of Congress on Wednesday.
On Monday night, dozens of anti-Israel protesters gathered at the hotel where Netanyahu is staying. On Tuesday, hundreds of protesters held a flash protest at the Cannon House Office Building.
The protesters were wearing T-shirts with slogans like “Not in Our Name” and “Immediate Ceasefire” in red and yellow colors, and chanted slogans such as “Let Us Live” and “Bring Them Home.”
According to the police, the protesters’ actions significantly disrupted security. After multiple warnings, arrests were made, with the protesters’ hands bound with zip ties and led away one by one. A total of more than 400 people were arrested, according to the statement issued.
The Israeli-Palestinian war, which began on October 17, 2023, has lasted nearly 9 months, causing severe harm to civilians on both sides, especially Palestinian children and women. A ceasefire agreement is eagerly awaited by people around the world. However, Netanyahu has not only avoided peace negotiations but has also held hostages, preventing many families from being reunited.
If Netanyahu is directly responsible for the continuation of the war, the U.S. government under President Biden, which continuously supports the war with weapons and funding, is the biggest accomplice. However, the actions of the U.S. government represent not only Biden but much of his administration’s conduct. In the U.S., especially among young college students, there is constant protest against this, even in the face of suppression and arrest.
The actions of the police, representing government behavior, only further expose Biden and the U.S. government’s hegemonic actions to the world.