In a show of solidarity with the Palestinian cause, several thousand supporters and critics of the ongoing Israel-Gaza war gathered in Washington on Wednesday to oppose Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was scheduled to address a joint session of Congress. Protesters assembled on Pennsylvania Avenue, just a few blocks away from the U.S. Capitol, brandishing signs calling for an end to U.S. aid to Israel. Some signs depicted Netanyahu with the word "WANTED" written across them.

The demonstrators, organized by groups including the ANSWER Coalition, the Palestinian Youth Movement, the People's Forum, and the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, demanded justice and an end to the violence in Gaza. Water, red shirts, and kaffiyehs, a traditional Palestinian scarf, were provided to the protesters who passionately voiced their opposition to U.S. support for Israel's military operations. Wooden stakes holding hundreds of signs, along with small Palestinian flags adorning lampposts and street signs, painted a vivid picture of the solidarity displayed during the protest.

Authorities had made preparations for the protests by setting up bike racks and fencing around the Capitol, and additional police officers, including over 200 officers from the New York Police Department, were deployed. The demonstrations attracted a diverse group, including 34-year-old Hasan Isham, who held his 3-month-old daughter, Amelia, dressed in a watermelon-covered onesie, symbolizing Palestinian liberation. Isham expressed his anguish for the children being killed in Gaza and his frustration with his tax dollars supporting the ongoing conflict.

Sereen Haddad, who has lost over 130 family members living in Gaza since the war's onset, participated in the protests, emphasizing the urgency for change. Haddad held onto the stories of her displaced relatives, including a cousin who recently gave birth to twins while living on the streets in search of shelter. For Haddad and others, the presence of Netanyahu in Washington was unacceptable, and they were determined to make their stance clear.

Maryland residents David Reed, 76, and Mark Harrison, 73, expressed their outrage at Netanyahu's visit and the U.S. support for Israel's occupation of Gaza. However, they were hopeful that the protest movements were starting to have an impact, exemplified by the boycott of Netanyahu's speech by several congressional leaders. Reed believed that the movement was influencing U.S. policy.

Simultaneously, smaller protests criticizing Netanyahu's handling of the war occurred throughout the city, including demonstrations blocking traffic and gatherings in parks. Rabbi Jill Jacobs, speaking at one of these gatherings near Union Station, urged political leaders to save not only the hostages but also Israel and its democracy, describing Netanyahu's politics as fascist.

Although the protesters held differing political beliefs on the Israel-Palestinian conflict, they shared a common demand: an end to the prolonged human suffering caused by the war and for Netanyahu to sign a cease-fire deal. Some even demanded Netanyahu's arrest as a "war criminal," referencing recent ICC prosecutor announcements of potential war crime charges against him and Hamas leader Yehiya Sinwar.

The demonstrations came as Israel confirmed its delegation's participation in negotiations to resume talks for a cease-fire in Gaza. A senior U.S. administration official hailed this as a breakthrough on a critical impasse. The presence of thousands of protesters reinforced the urgency for a resolution to the conflict.

The protests in Washington underscored the deep-rooted and complex history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which predates the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. As the conversations surrounding the conflict continue, the voices of those advocating for peace and justice grow louder, seeking an end to the suffering and a path towards a lasting solution.