WASHINGTON — Hundreds of demonstrators were hauled away by police inside a Congressional building Tuesday afternoon. They were doing a sit-in protesting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington, D.C.
According to U.S. Capitol Police, the group gathered inside the Cannon Rotunda inside the Cannon House Office Building.
"Demonstrations are not allowed inside the Congressional Buildings," USCP said on X, formerly known as Twitter, just before 4 p.m. "We told the people, who legally entered, to stop or they would be arrested. They did not stop, we are arresting them."
CNN had a camera inside the building during the demonstration and arrests. The demonstrators began clapping and appeared to all be wearing red shirts that read "Jews say stop arming Israel."
On Tuesday night, USCP confirmed that approximately 200 people were arrested for crowding, obstructing, or incommoding in regards to the demonstration inside the Cannon House Office Building.
"Demonstrating inside the Congressional Buildings is against the law," USCP said.
The organization Jewish Voice for Peace has taken responsibility for the demonstration and said more than 400 Jewish Americans were there to call for the end of the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and for the U.S. government to halt efforts to arm Israel.
"While arrests begin, we continue to demand a weapons embargo and an end to the genocide of the Palestinian people, aided and abetted by the U.S. government," the organization posted on X, along with photos of demonstrators being arrested.
The demonstration comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the District, with reported plans to meet with President Joe Biden on Thursday. The trip is the first time Netanyahu has traveled abroad since the war broke out on Oct. 7, as ties to western allies have been strained by the conflict.
Fencing was added around entry points to the Capitol and the Watergate Hotel.