On Wednesday, 24th July, pro-Palestine demonstrators removed the American flags from outside Union Station in Washington, DC, and replaced them with the Palestinian flags. The demonstrators assembled in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, DC.
A US Park Police commander confirmed that two of the three American flags taken down by protesters were set on fire. The demonstration further resulted in road closures in the Capitol and Union Square locations. Protesters also burned an effigy of Netanyahu and demanded an end to US military funding to Israel during its ongoing crisis in Gaza.
Gaza protesters have removed the American flags from Union Station, lit then on fire with a Netanyahu effigy and replaced them with Palestine flags. pic.twitter.com/c8hz90phqL
— Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) July 24, 2024
Videos published online show the spectators chanting as the flags burnt, with some showing Netanyahu’s effigy in flames while demonstrators yelled “Free Palestine.” Protesters also painted many fountains on Capitol Hill crimson and projected messages onto buildings demanding Netanyahu’s arrest as a war criminal.
As seen in the videos shared online, the pro-Palestine protesters also dragged and assaulted a police officer on the bricks outside of Union Station. They also filmed replacing the US flag with the Palestinian flag before setting fire to the US flag.
A group named ‘Palestinian Youth Movement’ also released insects and worms in the Watergate Hotel where Netanyahu and his team were staying, and activated fire alarms through the night so that the visitors couldn’t sleep properly.
NEW: Pro-Palestine protesters filmed dragging and assaulting a police officer on the bricks outside of Union Station.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 24, 2024
The protesters were also filmed replacing the U.S. flag with the Palestinian flag before setting fire to the U.S. flag.
U.S. Capitol Police was forced to issue… pic.twitter.com/blEEXWSW5y
The United States Capitol Police reported that a portion of the audience turned “violent” and refused to heed directions. Officers used pepper spray, and social media footage showed confrontations between officers and agitators.
The White House took cognizance of the event and condemned the anti-Israel agitators who descended on Washington, D.C. “Identifying with evil terrorist organizations like Hamas, burning the American flag, or forcibly removing the American flag and replacing it with another, is disgraceful,” White House spokesperson Andrew Bates was quoted as saying.
“Antisemitism and violence are never acceptable. Period. Every American has the right to peaceful protest. But shamefully, not everyone demonstrated peacefulness today,” he added.
This is after Netanyahu addressed Congress on Wednesday, amid his country’s fight against Hamas, which has been ongoing since October. During his remarks, Netanyahu denounced the cease-fire demonstrations that have taken place across the United States since the war began.
“I have a message for these protesters. When the tyrants of Tehran, who hang gays from cranes and murder women for not covering their hair, are praising, promoting, and funding you, you have officially become Iran’s useful idiots,” Netanyahu said.
“Some of these protesters hold up signs proclaiming ‘gays for Gaza.’ They might as well hold up signs saying, ‘Chickens for KFC.’ These protesters chant, ‘From the river to the sea,’ but many don’t have a clue what river and what sea they’re talking about,” he added.
So far, 23 have been arrested amid the protest. Police action is underway.
