BREAKING: Pro-Palestinian protest outside of Netanyahu speech turns violent, Capitol police deploy crowd control munitions

“Part of the crowd has started to become violent at First Street and Constitution Avenue, NW. The crowd failed to obey our order to move back from our police line. We are deploying pepper spray towards anyone trying to break the law and cross that line,” Capitol Police stated in a post on X.

The protests mark a significant escalation as demonstrators continue to voice opposition to Netanyahu’s visit and Israel’s actions during the ongoing war. Thousands of protesters descended to the streets near the Capitol, which included heavy police presence and high fencing.

Protesters were seen holding signs that depicted blood-stained hands and Netanyahu as the devil. The signs had various messages such as "arrest Netanyahu" and "end all US aid to Israel." Protesters were also heard chanting various slogans, including "Netanyahu you can't hide" and "The intifada has just begun."

In preparation for the protests, over 200 New York Police Department Officers were temporarily sworn in as Capitol Police Special Officers on Tuesday to help strengthen the presence of law enforcement in DC.

"These officers are some of the most highly trained and from some of the most specialized units in the Department and will use their knowledge and expertise to assist our law enforcement partners in DC," explained NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry.

Capitol Police also reported that five people in the House Gallery disrupted the address during the joint meeting. The individuals in question were promptly removed from the Gallery and arrested.

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