At least 300 Jewish protesters have been arrested after taking over the Capitol to condemn the escalating Israel-Palestine conflict.
Demonstrators wearing black t-shirts chanting ‘ceasefire now’ made their feelings clear one day after an airstrike destroyed a hospital in Gaza, leaving hundreds of Palestinians dead.
Video and pictures from the Capitol Building’s Cannon Rotunda show members of the group – wearing the slogan “Jews say ceasefire now” – being restrained .
Earlier on Wednesday, US Capitol Police wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “A group of protesters are demonstrating inside the Cannon Rotunda. Demonstrations are not allowed inside Congressional Buildings.”
They later added: “We warned the protesters to stop demonstrating and when they did not comply we began arresting them.”
Police have confirmed that among the arrests, three people have been charged with assault on a police officer during processing.
It comes after demonstrators from Jewish American groups staged peaceful protests outside the White House on Monday, blocking several entrances.
The protesters gathered in Washington, D.C. to demand a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Roads have since been closed as a precaution.
