Thousands of people protesting Israel’s war in Gaza are marched in Washington chanting “Free, Free Palestine” as they filled blocks of city streets.
Demonstrators calling for an end to the war that has killed more than 39,000 Palestinians marched toward the Capitol but were blocked by police from getting closer to the building.
Demonstrators rallied near the Capitol before marching toward the building ahead of Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the joint session of Congress.
After blocking a nearby intersection, protesters chanted, “Shut it down!” as they marched behind a banner that said “globalize the student intifada.”
“Bibi, Bibi, We’re not done! The intifada has just begun!” they shouted, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname. Other protesters chanted, “Netanyahu, you can’t hide. You’re committing genocide.
Protesters burned American flags and an effigy of Benjamin Netanyahu as the Israeli prime minister gave an address to the US congress.
Mr Netanyahu used his speech, skipped by 80 Democrats including Kamala Harris, to bolster US support for Israel’s war in Gaza.
Police doused protesters outside the US Capitol building with pepper spray, after pro-Palestine and pro-Israel demonstrators clashed.
An effigy of Mr Netanyahu was set alight outside Union Square station where protesters ripped down an American flag and replaced it with a Palestinian one.
As police in riot gear tried to contain the demonstration using pepper spray, others openly flew Hamas’s own flag. One protester could be heard calling police officers “f***ing scum”.
The Israeli prime minister denounced protestors as Iran’s “useful idiots” during his address.
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