Violence breaks out at Gaza protests in Washington
Protesters in Washington 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, which was boycotted by more than 80 Democrats including presidential hopeful Kamala Harris, to bolster US support for Israel’s war in Gaza.
“America and Israel must stand together. When we stand together something really simple happens: We win, they lose,” he said.
Police doused protesters outside the US Capitol building with pepper spray after pro-Palestine and pro-Israel factions 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 violence 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 protesters as Iran’s “useful idiots” during his address.
“When the tyrants of Tehran who hang gays from cranes and murder women for not covering their hair are praising, promoting, and funding you, you have officially become Iran’s useful idiots,” he said.
Reports said the protests were largely peaceful until Mr Netanyahu began speaking, according to US Capitol Police.
“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,” the force said.
Some people carried banners that said the Israeli leader was a “Wanted War Criminal”, referring to an arrest warrant sought by International Criminal Court prosecutors. Mr Netanyahu has vehemently denied war crimes allegations.
Actress Susan Sarandon, 77, was among those who condemned the death toll. “No one is free until everyone is free,” she said.
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.
Almost 40,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s military response to the Hamas attack of Oct 7 2023.
Almost 1,200 Israelis were killed that day and several hundred taken hostage. At least 116 hostages remain unaccounted for.