The U.S. Capitol Police arrested 49 protesters inside the Senate office building on Monday as they called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war – the latest protest at the Capitol urging lawmakers to seek a permanent end to Israeli attacks in Gaza amid ongoing negotiations in Congress regarding a new aid package for Israel.
Key Facts
Most of the protesters were arrested for violating a law prohibiting gatherings or obstruction inside legislative buildings, and police noted that “protesting inside legislative buildings is illegal.” At least two people were arrested, including a man accused of climbing a statue inside the Hart Senate office building, on charges of resisting arrest. Videos posted on social media show protesters lying on the ground, some wearing shirts that read “Stop Arms Now” and “Invest in Life.” The protest was organized by the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, Jewish Voice for Peace, and About Face: Veterans Against the War, according to the Washington Post.
Background
Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, taking about 240 hostages and killing around 1,200 people, after which Israel swept into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, resulting in more than 17,000 deaths according to the health ministry run by Hamas. While Biden has expressed strong support for Israel since Hamas’s incursion, tensions have grown between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Biden administration in recent weeks amid rising Palestinian casualty figures and negotiations related to the release of Hamas hostages. The Biden administration has also rejected Netanyahu’s statements that Israel will maintain a military presence in Gaza after the conflict ends, instead calling for the Palestinian Authority to govern the area. However, Biden opposed calls from some congressional progressives for a ceasefire, arguing that it would enable and encourage Hamas. The U.S. helped negotiate a temporary ceasefire last month to allow for the release of hostages, but fighting resumed when Israel accused Hamas of violating the terms of the agreement by not releasing all female hostages.
In another development, more than 300 people were arrested in an October protest calling for a ceasefire inside the Cannon office building. Last month, over 50 people were arrested for a sit-in at the offices of several Senate Democrats advocating for a ceasefire. Protesters demanding a ceasefire also clashed with police outside the Democratic National Committee headquarters in November, resulting in injuries to at least six officers, while one of the groups organizing the protests accused police of responding violently to what the organizers described as a peaceful demonstration, leading to over 90 injuries.
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