Thousands protest near US Capitol ahead of Netanyahu speech to Congress
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Protesters against Israel's war in Gaza and US weapons sales to Israel gather outside the US Capitol before the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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WASHINGTON - Thousands of protesters opposed to Israel's war in Gaza, some carrying Palestinian flags, gathered near the US Capitol on July 24 ahead of a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to members of Congress.
A stage decked with banners included one declaring the Israeli leader a "Wanted War Criminal" in reference to an arrest warrant sought by International Criminal Court prosecutors.
Mr Netanyahu vehemently denies war crimes allegations.
Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon took to the stage and condemned the death toll.
"No one is free until everyone is free," Ms Sarandon said.
Nearby, demonstrators placed nearly 30 human-size cardboard coffins wrapped in Palestinian flags in memory of those killed in the war in Gaza.
Traffic was barred from several roads near the Capitol.
"I want all aid (to) be suspended to Israel due to its actions in Gaza," said Mr Bradley Cullinan, who said he travelled to the area from Columbus, Ohio, 640km away.
Dozens of Democratic lawmakers planned to skip Mr Netanyahu's speech to Congress, expressing dismay over the thousands of civilian deaths and the humanitarian crisis from Israel's campaign in Gaza.
Members of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish group carried Palestinian flags and signs reading "Free Palestine" and "Anti-Zionism is not antisemitism," while a group of younger protesters danced to Arabic music and carried large banners reading "Stop Arming Israel and "Stop War Crimes in Gaza."
“We are horrified by the destruction of the health system in Gaza,” Dr Karameh Kuemmerle, of the organisation Doctors Against Genocide, told AFP.
“And we are here to show our opposition to having the criminal Netanyahu come to our capital and being greeted by the politicians who sent him weapons to kill children in Gaza,” the doctor, who travelled to Washington from Boston, said.
Pro-Palestinian groups and university students have for months protested in the US against Israel's offensive in Gaza, a Hamas-ruled enclave where health authorities say nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly all of its 2.3 million people have been displaced.
Israel's military assault followed an Oct 7 attack by Hamas,
ICC prosecutors say there are reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant as well as Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Al-Masri and Ismail Haniyeh, bear criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. REUTERS, AFP
Orthodox Jews taking part in a pro-Palestinian protest near the US Capitol on July 24.
PHOTO: AFP
