US Capitol police detains demonstrators gathered urging ceasefire in Gaza

Numerous protesters who had gathered on the National Mall to call for a “ceasefire now” amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas were detained by US Capitol police inside the building. The Capitol Hill building that the public’s access to the Capitol complex has been restricted following a significant number of protesters who demanded a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas disrupted one of the House office buildings.

In an effort to manage public entry into the campus, the House Sergeant-at-Arms sent a memo to congressional offices stating that all visitors would be limited to a single door. In preparation for the protest, several bike-rack fencing barriers were set up around the Capitol building on Tuesday night. In order to ensure the security of demonstrators outside, the Capitol Police also announced they would be closing nearby roads.

“A group of protesters are demonstrating inside the Cannon Rotunda. Demonstrations are not allowed inside Congressional Buildings,” the U.S. Capitol Police said in a post on X.
“Demonstrations are not allowed inside Congressional Buildings,” the Capitol Police said after the arrests.
“We warned the protestors to stop demonstrating and when they did not comply we began arresting them,” the Capitol Police added.
Earlier, speaking at a news conference Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Hamas terror group was perpetrating a double war crime daily.