Protesters Call for Ceasefire in Gaza, Leading to Multiple Arrests on Capitol Hill

A protest sponsored by Jewish American groups advocating for Palestinians led to multiple arrests on Capitol Hill as hundreds of demonstrators entered the rotunda of the Cannon House office building. Despite warnings from the police, the protesters demanded a ceasefire in Gaza and called on President Joe Biden to intervene. The Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow were the two groups behind the protest, aiming to use their leverage to implement a ceasefire and halt Israel’s war on Palestinians in Gaza.

To prepare for the rally, Capitol Police erected additional bike racks and deployed extra officers on site. However, just before 3 p.m., the police announced via X (formerly known as Twitter) that the protesters had entered the Cannon Rotunda, emphasizing that demonstrations are prohibited inside Congressional Buildings. As a result, all pedestrian entry points to House office buildings were restricted to House members and staff, causing rolling road closures.

Exact details regarding the number of arrests or injuries related to the protest were unavailable at the time of the report. However, Capitol Police stated on Twitter that at least three arrests had been made for assault on a police officer during processing.

Around 350 people, including two dozen rabbis, participated in a sit-in at the Cannon House building, as confirmed by Jewish Voice for Peace. The organization announced that the protesters refused to leave until Congress called for a ceasefire in Gaza. Jewish Voice for Peace prides itself as the largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization globally, and they are the only major Jewish group supporting the Palestinian civil society’s boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who downplayed the storming of the Capitol by Trump supporters in January 2021, labelled Wednesday’s protest as an insurrection. She shared footage of both the inside and outside of the House building on social media. Earlier in the day, Greene also claimed that Capitol Police had received intelligence suggesting that members of Congress might be targeted, leading to the instructions to stay inside and use underground tunnels.

The demonstration took place in Washington, D.C., approximately two weeks after Hamas launched an attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,400 Israelis. In response, Israel declared war on Hamas, a Gaza-based militant group, leading to the killing of over 3,000 Palestinians and the injury of thousands more. Israel has also cut off essential resources, including fuel, water, and other utilities previously supplied to Gaza. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his approval to allow aid from Egypt to reach Gaza, on the condition that none of it reaches Hamas.

Jewish Voice for Peace organized the protest as part of their “week of actions” in D.C., aiming to oppose the alleged genocide in Palestinian territories and call for an immediate ceasefire.