WASHINGTON, July 24 (Reuters) – Police used pepper spray on some of the thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters who gathered outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Congress.
Shortly before Netanyahu began speaking, U.S. Capitol Police said some protesters had become violent. “The crowd failed to obey our order to move back from our police line. We are deploying pepper spray towards anyone trying to break the law and cross that line,” police said in a statement. 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.
Authorities had closed off traffic around the Capitol before the speech in unusually tight security.
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. Netanyahu vehemently denies war crimes allegations. 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 Bradley Cullinan, who said he traveled to the area from Columbus, Ohio, 400 miles (640 km) away. Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon took to the stage and condemned the death toll. “No one is free until everyone is free,” Sarandon said…Source:reuters.com/
Saturday, April 25, 2026
