Wave of protests breaks out against Israel’s genocide in Gaza
Several cities in the world were the scene of fresh anti-Israel demonstrations as Israel continues its devastating war on the Gaza Strip.
American protesters against the Gaza war staged a sit-in at a congressional office building Tuesday ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress, with Capitol Police making multiple arrests.
Netanyahu arrived in Washington Monday for a visit that includes meetings with President Joe Biden and a Wednesday speech before a joint session of Congress. Dozens of protesters rallied outside his hotel Monday evening, and on Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of demonstrators staged a flashmob-style protest in the Cannon Building, which houses offices of House of Representatives members.
Organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, protesters wearing red T-shirts that read “Not In Our Name” took over the building’s rotunda, sitting on the floor, unfurling signs and chanting “Let Gaza Live!”
After about a half-hour of clapping and chanting, officers from the US Capitol Police issued several warnings, then began arresting protesters — binding their hands with zip ties and leading them away one-by-one.
“I am the daughter of Holocaust survivors and I know what a Holocaust looks like,” said Jane Hirschmann, a native of Saugerties, New York, who drove down for the protest along with her two daughters — both of whom were arrested. “When we say ‘Never Again,’ we mean never for anybody.”
The demonstrators focused much of their ire on the Biden administration, demanding that the president immediately cease all arms shipments to Israel.
“We’re not focusing on Netanyahu. He’s just a symptom,” Hirschmann said. “But how can (Biden) be calling for a cease-fire when he’s sending them bombs and planes?”
Protests in UK
Workers and trade unionists from Workers for a Free Palestine blockaded the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in central London.
They called on Foreign Secretary David Lammy and the new Labour government to meet their own demands on the previous government by immediately suspending the sale of arms to Israel.
Demonstrators also demanded the withdrawal of a legal bid to block the International Criminal Court from issuing an arrest warrant for Netanyahu.
In France, demonstrators gathered at Paris’ Place de Clichy on Tuesday to protest against Israel’s war in Gaza and its participation in the Olympic Games.
Some protesters joined in from Spain and demanded that the Israeli delegation be expelled from the games.
“Israel should be expelled because it is systematically violating rights and international laws,” demonstrator Elena Guerra said. Far-left French lawmakers have urged protests against Israel’s participation in the Games.
The Games begin on Friday amid pronounced security concerns and heightened geopolitical tensions over the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. France will deploy hundreds of police officers to secure Israel’s opening Olympic football match against Mali in an initial security test before the Games’ opening ceremony.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said 1,000 security personnel will be deployed.
The Palestinian Olympic Committee this week called for Israel to be excluded from the Games in an open letter to International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach. The letter accused Israel of breaching the traditional Olympic truce with its ongoing war on Gaza, which has claimed the lives of more than 39,000 Palestinians – mostly women and children – since October.
Strikes on Khan Yunis
Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip killed at least 121 Palestinians killed and wounded hundreds of others in southern Khan Younis in just 24 hours.
Two United Nations agencies said an estimated 150,000 people have fled the southern city of Khan Yunis since Monday.
Louise Wateridge, from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), made said on Wednesday that the Palestinians fled the city after Israel announced the latest evacuation order.
“Over 80% of the Gaza Strip has been placed under evacuation orders or designated as no-go zones by the Israeli military,” Wateridge said.