Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered on Tuesday outside the White House to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit as he held talks with President Donald Trump.
Protesters waved Palestinian flags and carried banners that demanded an end to US military support for Israel amid heightened security around the White House.
Several demonstrators held banners that read: “Stop arming Israel,” while others carried signs declaring that “Netanyahu is a war criminal” and “Catholics for a Free Palestine.”
The protesters could be heard from the White House, where talks between Netanyahu and Trump were underway. The US war with Iran and broader regional security issues were expected to dominate the meeting.
Growing opposition to Netanyahu
The protest comes as US public opinion toward Israel has grown increasingly negative, with several recent polls showing mounting concern about Israel’s genocide in Gaza, along with its alleged possession of nuclear weapons.
A recent Economist/YouGov survey found that 49 percent of Americans believed US law enforcement should arrest Netanyahu during the visit, including 23 percent of those who voted for Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
The survey also found 47 percent of Americans believed Netanyahu was guilty of war crimes, while the same percentage said his actions had damaged US-Israel relations.
Netanyahu was viewed unfavourably by 54 percent of respondents, including 35 percent of Trump voters.
