Washington: Massive protests against Netanyahu block the road between the White House and Congress

Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets of Washington, DC, on Wednesday to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he addressed Congress.

Thousands of people gathered to express their dissatisfaction with Netanyahu's policies towards the Palestinian Gaza Strip, and blocked traffic on Pennsylvania Avenue, the main road between the White House and Congress.

In addition to American and Palestinian Muslims, the protests were attended by many Jewish NGOs and human rights activists who oppose Netanyahu's policies, and the demonstrators carried signs with phrases such as "Immediate ceasefire in Gaza," "Bibi genocide," "Biden genocide," and "Free Palestine."

The private Israeli Channel 12 reported that "massive pro-Palestinian demonstrations were organized outside Congress, as streets in the area were closed and thousands of police officers were deployed," adding that hundreds of New York Police Department officers arrived at Capitol Hill, the seat of Congress, to help Washington police prepare for the expected protests during Netanyahu's speech.

The demonstrators carried banners demanding the arrest of Netanyahu over the war in Gaza, and the cessation of the war that Israel has been waging for 10 months on the Strip. Dozens of families of Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip also demonstrated in front of the Congress building, demanding that Netanyahu sign an agreement to release their relatives.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators held various protests around and inside the Watergate Hotel where Netanyahu is staying, chanting slogans against genocide and against Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden, and did not leave the hotel for a long time.

On Monday, Netanyahu arrived in the United States, and is scheduled to meet with President Biden tomorrow, Thursday, and later with his Vice President Kamala Harris. He will also meet with Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump in Florida on Friday, and then return to Israel next Saturday evening.