Pro-Palestinian demonstrators took over the lobby of the Hart Senate Office building on Monday and demanded a cease-fire in Gaza.
According to the Washington Examiner, more than 40 protesters were arrested.
Mary Margaret Olohan of the Daily Signal posted on X that the demonstrators chanted “ceasefire now” and scattered fake money on the floor of the lobby to represent “blood money.”
Some of the protesters held a large banner that read, “‘Aid to Israel = Bombing Palestinians.”
Olohan said the U.S. Capitol Police were “zip tying them one by one.”
Happening now in Hart Senate office building: protestors calling for “ceasefire now” have strewn “blood money” all over the floor and are lying on the ground.
I’m told that USCP is zip tying them one by one. pic.twitter.com/3VaRek7Oo3
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) December 11, 2023
Officers were seen leading zip-tied protesters, many wearing face masks, out of the building.
BREAKING: Protesters call for ceasefire now in Hart Senate Building as police start making mass arrests #FreePalestine #IsraelApartheidState pic.twitter.com/4sOMa4TzSI
— #StopCopCity (@ChuckModi1) December 11, 2023
One protester climbed onto a black statue in the lobby and tied himself to it, according to Sam Fisker of Scripps News.
A demonstrator has climbed onto and tied himself to a structure in the Hart Senate office building shouting “Ceasefire Now!” pic.twitter.com/EwqkolzSfa
— Sam Lisker (@slisker) December 11, 2023
The Examiner reported the protester yelled, “Cease-fire now,” and was later charged with resisting arrest.
The Washington Post quoted a Capitol Police spokesman as saying 49 people had been arrested and charged with unlawfully crowding, obstructing or incommoding.
It said the demonstration had been organized by several organizations.
“Funding more death and destruction of human life is immoral and wrong,” Sandra Tamari, the executive director of Adalah Justice Project, said in a statement, according to the Post. “It makes no one secure, and instead fuels hatred and continued war.”
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina dismissed the demonstration in a comment posted to X.
“Anti-Israel protestors making a mess of the Senate. I’m sure they’ll change hearts and minds by making hardworking Senate custodial workers spend their entire day cleaning up the mess they created. Thank you to Capitol Police and the Senate facility staff for upholding professionalism in the midst of such clownery,” he wrote.
Anti-Israel protestors making a mess of the Senate. I’m sure they’ll change hearts and minds by making hardworking Senate custodial workers spend their entire day cleaning up the mess they created. Thank you to Capitol Police and the Senate facility staff for upholding… pic.twitter.com/LnQ4Qg9pRG
— Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) December 11, 2023
Amid protests in Washington, Israel continued to attack Hamas outposts in Gaza.
The Times of Israel reported Monday that 104 Israeli troops have been killed in the war launched by Hamas when it slaughtered 1,200 people in an Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday there is no timetable for Israel to end its campaign to eviscerate Hamas, according to The Associated Press.
“We are going to defend ourselves. I am fighting for Israel’s future,” he said.
