WASHINGTON — All eyes were on Capitol Hill Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressing a joint session of Congress. House Republicans invited the world leader to speak as the war between Israel and Hamas rages on.
As a result of the visit, several road closures and parking restrictions have been in place for several days, and thousands of protesters -- from both sides -- are making their voices heard.
By noon, a pro-Palestinian protest had already closed down at least four blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue, right outside the Capitol. Six intersections around the Capitol were completely blocked off with ongoing demonstrations.
On Wednesday night, law enforcement agencies broke down a number of arrests. As of 6 p.m., the arrests include:
- Metropolitan Police Department - 9 arrests
- US Capitol Police - 6 arrests
- US Park Police - 8 arrests
The arrest charges range from crowding, obstructing, and incommoding to assault on a police officer and crossing a police line.
WUSA9 spoke to protesters who said they are just as upset at Netanyahu as they are at American members of Congress who invited the Israeli prime minister to address Congress.
"It is a slap in the face for this administration and for both parties to be hosting someone who is wanted by the international criminal courts for the role that he's played in the massacre of Palestian people in Gaza," Kaleem Hawa, an organizer of the Palestinian Youth Movement, said. "Our responsibility today is to show mass grassroots anger at this administration's ongoing funding and arming of this genocide."
The crowd appeared to be a diverse group made up of people with Palestinian roots, members of the Jewish community and others who say they are outraged at what's going on in Gaza.
"I want to make clear that Netyanhu when he stands up in Congress does not represent all Jews, and certainly he does not speak in the name of the Jewish relgion," said Rabbi Dovid Feldman with Jews United Against Zionism. "It is that religion that he refuses to follow, that he choses to misuse to justify all that he stands for."
There were a few heated moments between protesters and those who disagreed with them, but overall violence was not reported. While there did not appear to be any counter protesters in support of Netanyahu, a smaller group of relatives of Israeli hostages held a vigil on the National Mall.
On the Union Station side of the Capitol, a pro-Israel -- but anti-war and and anti-Netanyahu -- group gathered. Protesters said they blame the prime minister for the ongoing war and that Hamas still has Israeli hostages.
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) presided over the joint session, as Vice President Kamala Harris was not present. He spoke to WUSA9 about what he hoped this meeting would do.
"Hopefuly it's an opportunity to advance the peace process in the middle east, to get the hostages released, to find a path forward so that the Palestianians and Istaelis can live together in peace," Cardin said, while acknolwedging that there have been differences between what Netanyahu wants and what American leadership thinks is the right path forward.
A spokesperson for U.S. Capitol Police told WUSA9 Tuesday that they've been working around the clock with federal, state, and local partners to make sure they are prepared for any unrest. While they wouldn't get into specific security details, they did share that they're adding more officers, including some from outside agencies. The New York City Police Department confirmed they had sent more than 200 officers to assist.
"We were requested by Capitol Police to assist them with some anticipated protests," said NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell. "We've handled close to 4,000 protests. So, unfortunately, we get a lot of practice,"
Fairfax County Police Department and the Montgomery County Police Department were also sending officers.
Fencing has also been added around entry points to the Capitol and the Watergate Hotel.
Wednesday's protests were not the first First Amendment activities to occur during the prime minister's visit. A sit-in inside the Cannon Building Rotunda Tuesday led to nearly 200 people being arrested, according to the U.S. Capitol Police. They were arrested on charges of crowding, obstructing, or incommoding in regards to the demonstration inside the Cannon House Office Building.
"Demonstrations are not allowed inside the Congressional Buildings. We told the people, who legally entered, to stop or they would be arrested. They did not stop, so we are arresting them," U.S. Capitol Police posted on the social media platform X.
The group Jewish Voice for Peace, who organized the demonstration, says they are demanding the U.S. to enact an immediate weapons embargo on the Israeli government.
"While arrests begin, we continue to demand a weapons embargo and an end to the genocide of the Palestinian people, aided and abetted by the U.S. government," the organization posted on X, along with photos of demonstrators being arrested.
Several groups with a wide range of agendas have scheduled events throughout Netanyahu's visit, including families of the Israeli hostages.
Yotam Cohen traveled from Israel to D.C. as his family continues pressuring the Israeli Prime Minister to reach a deal so his younger brother, Nimrod Cohen, can come home.
"We want to remind him that even here, on the other side of the world we are here, and to show him the truth that there are still 120 people, hostages that are awaiting to be freed," he told WUSA9.
It has been nearly 300 days since Yotam has seen his brother. Nimrod Cohen, was 19 when was taken hostage in Gaza on Oct. 7 from Nahal Oz. His family says he is a soldier with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Yotam Cohen says he and his father refused to participate in a Monday meeting between the Israeli Prime Minister and the hostage families in D.C.
"We don't want any words. We just want actions. We want a deal, and until there is a deal we are boycotting him," he added.
Also participating is Efrat Moshokoviz, the aunt of Naama Levy will be attending Prime Minister Netanyahu's joint address to Congress. A video showed Levy being kidnapped and dragged out of a jeep in Gaza.
During the meeting, Netanyahu said they were getting, "determined to return everyone."