Protesters are rallying within sight of the Capitol building, denouncing Israel’s war in Gaza and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who delivered an address to a joint session of Congress Wednesday afternoon.
More than 50 congressional Democrats were noticeably absent after announcing publicly that they would not be attending the speech in protest of the prime minister’s handling of the war.
Meanwhile, Joe Biden will address the nation tonight at 8 p.m. ET.
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Trump rally attendees suffer heat stress
Paramedics received eight calls about people suffering from heat stress at the arena in Charlotte, North Carolina, where attendees waited outside for hours in the sweltering heat before being allowed inside to hear the former president speak Wednesday.
At least two people were taken to a hospital, according to the Mecklenburg Emergency Medical Services Agency.
Temperatures in Charlotte were near 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) and high humidity made it feel several degrees warmer on the pavement surrounding the 8,600-seat Bojangles Coliseum.
Police remove Palestinian flags at Union Station
Police have taken down Palestinian flags that protesters hoisted outside Washington’s Union Station. Protesters removed three American flags from the poles and replaced them with Palestinian flags. At least one of the American flags was burned. Police took down the Palestinian flags once the crowd began to dissipate.
Access to Union Station locked down
Amtrak Police locked down access to Union Station around 3:30 p.m. ET, closing all but one entrance to the major transportation hub.
In a message on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Virginia Railway Express notified passengers they would be required to show their tickets to get into the station, via the First Street Metrorail entrance.
Tempers flare outside Union Station as police officers take people into custody
An Associated Press reporter saw at least four people taken into custody by police during the confrontation outside Union Station. Protesters repeatedly shouted, “Let them go!” at officers.
One person grabbed at a police officer’s riot shield and then raised his fists in a fighting stance. An officer grabbed a Palestinian flag from a woman and tossed it aside. At least one protester appeared to be overcome by the effects of pepper spray.
Sen. Kelly: ‘Every Palestinian in Gaza is not a member of Hamas’
Sen. Mark Kelly said that Netanyahu expressed “a lot of things that many Americans are feeling,” but also wished the prime minister had acknowledged the loss of life during the war. “Every Palestinian in Gaza is not a member of Hamas.”
Netanyahu mentioned notifying civilians, Kelly said, but there have been a lot of civilian casualties, and there are always ways to improve. “It’s important to recognize that,” he said.
Over 39,000 Palestinians have been killed and another 89,800 have been wounded during Israel’s offensive, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
Hostage supporters gathered in Tel Aviv to watch Netanyahu speech, demand ‘deal now’
In Tel Aviv, hundreds of relatives of Israeli hostages and other supporters gathered in the city’s “Hostages Square” to watch the speech on a large screen.
Many chanted “Deal now” as he spoke.
“I want to tell my Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, my grandfather could have been alive today with us. He was waiting for someone to come and save him. He was waiting for you to seal the deal,” said Talya Dancyg, whose grandfather, Alex Dancyg, was pronounced dead in captivity this week by Israeli authorities.
“Seal the deal. Bring them home now,” she said.
“If he didn’t open with the words, ‘we have a deal,’ I don’t care what he has to say,” added Sharon Kalderon, sister-in-law of hostage Ofer Kalderon.
Protesters graffiti monument, disperse
Protesters have spray painted graffiti on a monument to Christopher Columbus outside Union Station, including the words, “Hamas is coming” in large red letters. At the base, the words “Free Gaza” are painted in green.
With the announcement over a megaphone that “the police are coming” many protestors appeared to disperse.
… But Democrats have had a more mixed response
1. Rep, Brad Schneider of Illinois, a Jewish Democrat and staunch Israel supporter said, “There’s a lot of times this could have turned in different directions,” expressing gratitude the speech was not partisan. “Did I agree with everything he said? No, but no one has spoken on this floor that I have agreed with everything they’ve said.”
2. Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan said she agreed with Netanyahu that the priority is getting the hostages out also acknowledged the importance of a cease-fire. “And then there is no question Hamas has to be removed from power. I agree with that, but I don’t agree that anyone who is protesting their strategy on war in Michigan are people who support Hamas.”
3. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut left dissatisfied, saying Netanyahu visited the U.S. and was “very clearly aligning himself with a host of messaging from Republicans,” which he called unsurprising but also “really, really sad.” Murphy said the speech was a lot of “war-sloganeering, and not much thoughtful, detailed explanation of how he’s going to keep Israel safe in the long run.”
Republicans have widely praised Netanyahu’s speech …
4. Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska, “The most important thing I think he did is lay out the stakes as it relates to Iran. That’s where Democrats and Republicans should agree. It is Iran behind everything, and he did a great job of laying that out.”
5. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Senate Republican, said Netanyahu “provided a stark reminder of what’s at stake not just for the region but for us.”
6. Republican House Leader Steve Scalise called the speech “moving” and said it allowed Congress to “see the cost of the war, to see what’s at stake, why they’re fighting and why they must win, and why it’s important for the United States to stand with them.”
7. Rep. Andy Barr of Kentucky, “Why should members of Congress, why should the American people defend Israel in their moment of need? Because it is in the national security interest of the United States to defeat Hamas and other Iranian proxies.”
US Rep. Jamie Raskin criticizes Netanyahu’s speech as one made for Trump’s GOP
U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland, said Netanyahu’s speech was made for Trump’s GOP
“It’s too bad he couldn’t have come earlier in the summer. He could have given it at the Republican National Convention because the speech was really pitched to right-wing Americans, for a right-wing approach to the war and that’s been rejected.”
Raskin, who met with families of hostages earlier in the day, said he heard no plan from Netanyahu for their safe return and an end to the war.
“We didn’t hear anything about meaningful progress towards a bilateral cease-fire in return for hostages. We didn’t hear anything about peace. We didn’t hear anything about a two-state solution, which has been U.S. foreign policy for decades,” he said.“You had one narcissistic, indicted right-wing autocrat coming over here to speak to the followers of another narcissistic, right-wing, autocrat.”
‘Palestine will be free’
Protesters cheered as a fire burned what appeared to be a paper-mache likeness of Netanyahu.
The replica of the Liberty Bell outside the station has been covered in graffiti reading “Free Palestine” and in Arabic “Palestine will be free.”
Officers wearing helmets and carrying riot shields are walking in a line down a street outside Union Station.
All 3 US flags at Union Station replaced with Palestinian flags
Protesters have climbed the flagpole outside Washington’s Union Station and replaced the American flags outside with Palestinian flags. Dozens of law enforcement officers remain outside Union Station, which is one of the nation’s busiest railroad terminals.
Cheers rang out as the final flag was raised.
Police deploy chemical agent at protestors
After being turned away by police near the Capitol, protesters wound through the Capitol Hill neighborhood for several blocks before gathering in front of Union Station.
When protestors took down one of the giant U.S. flags outside, police moved in. At least one person was arrested and police deployed chemical agents.
Protesters chanted “shame on you” as police dragged somebody away. At least two people were seen being treated for chemical agent effects on the eyes.
‘I came here to thank you, America,’ Netanyahu says as he wraps speech
“On behalf of the people of Israel, I came here to say thank you, America,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday as he finished his address to Congress.
Democrats subsequently filed out of the chamber while Republicans were still giving the prime minister enthusiastic applause.
Netanyahu praises Trump
The Israeli leader, frequently accused of wading into American politics in favor of Republicans, lavished praise on former president and current presidential contender Donald Trump “for all he’s done for Israel.”
‘Israel will fight until we destroy Hamas’ military capabilities
Netanyahu says he is ready to press forward with Israel’s war against Hamas until he achieves “total victory.”
Netanyahu told Congress that he would agree to a cease-fire if Hamas surrenders, disarms and releases all hostages it is holding.
“Israel will fight until we destroy Hamas’ military capabilities and its rule in Gaza and bring all our hostages home,” he said. “That’s what total victory means. And we will settle for nothing less.”
But he said Israel would continue to fight indefinitely until it destroys the group’s military capabilities and brings home all hostages.
Critics have said Netanyahu’s vow of total victory is unrealistic, as Hamas has repeatedly regrouped in areas that the Israeli military has withdrawn from.
U.S.-led cease-fire talks have dragged on for months without a breakthrough.
A tense scene between dueling protestors
At one point, late in the march, a brief scuffle broke out between different protest groups. At the corner of D Street and Delaware, a small group waving Israeli flags had set up a demonstration, claiming to be pro-Israel but anti-Netanyahu.
As the main rally passed them, one man tried to grab the megaphone held by one of the pro-Israeli protesters.
The pair separated after a brief struggle and the situation devolved into multiple tense, but nonviolent, debates.
People wearing yellow ‘Seal the deal now’ T-shirts removed
Earlier in the speech, five people wearing yellow T-shirts that read “seal the deal now” were removed from the House gallery. The phrase is a rallying cry for those urging Netanyahu to reach a deal to return the hostages.
The individuals stood to prominently display the message on their shirts during moments when others were applauding but had done nothing to disrupt the speech itself.
Arrests made in House Gallery, per Capitol Police
U.S. Capitol Police say they have arrested five people who disrupted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech before Congress. Police said in a post on X that the people were in the House Gallery and were “immediately removed” and arrested.
“Disrupting the Congress and demonstrating in the Congressional Buildings is against the law,” police said.
The affiliation of those arrested is not immediately clear.
Netanyahu’s speech takes on more combative tone
Netanyahu’s speech took on a more combative tone as he defended his country but also derided those protesting the war in Gaza, gesturing to demonstrations happening as he spoke on the streets outside the U.S. Capitol, as “useful idiots” for Israel’s adversaries.
“The hands of the Jewish state will never be shackled,” he said.
He drew shouts of applause from many in Congress, but also silence from leading Democrats who declined to stand and cheer.
A common thread of Netanyahu’s speech is painting Israel’s fight against Hamas and the region as a whole as synonymous with American interests and values.
RNC chairman says the party’s electoral strategy has not changed following Harris’ ascension
The head of the RNC says his party’s general election calculus has not changed now that Democrats may be led by Harris and not President Biden.
RNC Chairman Michael Whatley told The Associated Press ahead of Trump’s rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, later today that he feels “fantastic” about his candidate’s chances in the state, which was the scene of Trump’s slimmest electoral victory in 2020.
Whatley also said that he felt Vance’s addition to the ticket would resonate with voters in North Carolina.
Asked about running a campaign against Harris instead of Biden, Whatley expressed confidence in his notion that Trump “has more energy and is doing more events than any presidential candidate, ever. Nobody is going to outwork Donald Trump.”
Whatley was serving as chairman of the North Carolina GOP when Trump put him forth as his pick to lead national Republicans.
US Rep. Tlaib holds up sign that says ‘war criminal’ and ‘guilty of genocide’
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat, held up a sign in the House chamber Wednesday that said “war criminal” on one side and “guilty of genocide” on the other.
Tlaib has been one of Netanyahu’s most strident critics in Congress and was censured for her comments last year about the latest Israel-Hamas war.
She has relatives in the West Bank and represents a district in Michigan with many Palestinians.
Netanyahu thanks Biden for his efforts and ‘hearfelt support for Israel’
Netanyahu on Wednesday said Biden stood with Israel in his darkest hour and it will “never be forgotten.”
“I want to thank him for half a century of friendship to Israel,” he said.
Many had expected Netanyahu to use his address before Congress to once again criticize the Democratic president but the prime minister’s remarks so far have been complimentary and gracious to President Joe Biden, who stepped down days ago as the Democratic nominee for president, for “half a century of friendship to Israel.”
Police deployed pepper spray on protesters near US Capitol
Police deployed pepper spray Wednesday as a large crowd protesting Israel’s war in Gaza marched toward the U.S. Capitol, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was speaking to Congress.
Thousands of protesters descended on Washington, chanting “Free, Free Palestine” as some tried to block streets ahead of Netanyahu’s speech. Police wearing gas masks blocked the crowd, which was calling for an end to the war that has killed more than 39,000 Palestinians, from getting closer to the Capitol.
U.S. Capitol Police said in a post on X that some members of the crowd had become “violent” and had “failed to obey” orders to move back from the police line.
“We are deploying pepper spray toward anyone trying to break the law and cross that line,” Capitol Police said.
Netanyahu begins speech to Congress
“For the forces of civilization to triumph, America and Israel must stand together,” Netanyahu said. “When we stand together something really great happens: we win, they lose.
He wore a pin with Israeli and U.S. flags on one side, and a yellow pin expressing solidarity with the Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
More than 50 congressional Dems absent from Netanyahu’s address
By the time Netanyahu was set to begin his address before a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, more than fifty congressional Democrats were noticeably absent after announcing publicly that they would not be attending the speech in protest of the prime minister’s handling of the war.
Protesters gather outside US Embassy in Tel Aviv ahead of Netanyahu’s speech
Protests were also taking place in Israel ahead of Netanyahu’s speech, with demonstrators demanding a cease-fire in exchange for the release of the roughly 120 hostages still held by Hamas. About 200 protesters gathered outside the U.S. Embassy Branch Office in Tel Aviv, some holding signs reading “Bibi, enemy of Israel,” referring to Netanyahu by his nickname.
