Thousands Hit the Streets in DC Last Night Demanding the Arrest of War Criminal Netanyahu

CODEPINK News

"Arrest Netanyahu! Gaza is Not for Sale!"

Yesterday, peace activists took to the streets to protest the visit of war criminal and international fugitive Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House. Ahead of his meeting with President Donald Trump, CODEPINK joined a coalition of peace and human rights organizations at a press conference to demand accountability rather than celebrating Netanyahu, who faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.

Advocates, including officials from the US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), CODEPINK, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), and Americans for Justice in Palestine Action (AJP Action), warned that Trump's unwavering support for Netanyahu is undermining efforts for peace and humanitarian aid in the region.

Our own Medea Benjamin spoke out, highlighting Netanyahu's demand for more US taxpayer money and weapons. "He refuses to implement the ceasefire in Gaza. He doesn't want to remove Israeli military forces from Gaza. Instead, he wants to drag the US into a war with Iran, a goal he's pursued for many years," she stated during the press conference.

Medea also emphasized President Trump's opportunity to lead toward peace in the Middle East. "Will he follow the path of warmongers, or will he listen to the voices of the American people who have spoken out for months?" she asked.

Following the press conference, protesters gathered outside the White House for a mass demonstration, organized in response to the ongoing funding and support for the Zionist state's actions in Gaza, the escalation of violence in the West Bank, and the illegal occupation of Palestine.

Both Trump and Netanyahu have come under heavy criticism for their advocacy of ethnic cleansing and the perpetuation of violence against Palestinians. The protest called for Netanyahu's immediate arrest and the rejection of his genocidal actions, as well as condemnation of the war crimes being committed in the region.

While protesters were outside, Trump made an alarming statement, advocating for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza by suggesting the forced deportation of Palestinians to Jordan and Egypt. At the same time saying, the US would "own" Gaza. This led to chants of "Gaza is not for sale!" from the crowd.

While the seriousness of Trump's illegal plan remains uncertain, what is clear is that Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and across historic Palestine will not be moved. Over a year and a half of genocidal violence has not broken their resistance, and they will not surrender their land to anyone—least of all the United States.

Before the Netanyahu protest, several organizations gathered outside the Treasury Department to protest Elon Musk's illegal takeover of government funding and private citizen data. CODEPINK joined that protest in solidarity, noting that many could have attended the Netanyahu protest but chose not to.

It is going to take everyone to defeat Trump's racist, billionaire-driven agenda, which is putting lives at risk both at home and abroad. If your friends aren't involved in the anti-war movement, now is the time to bring them in. Get involved today!