Anti-Israeli protestors reportedly released thousands of maggots, crickets and other bugs and insects inside the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C., where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his delegation were staying ahead of his address to a joint session of Congress Wednesday.
The Palestinian Youth Movement’s DMV chapter took credit for the act on X. A video filmed within the hotel shows maggots and crickets released in various common spaces, with one shot showing a table full of mealworms while the Israeli and American flags stood in the background.
BON APPETIT!! MAGGOTS RELEASED ON THE CRIMINAL ZIONIST'S WAR TABLE!
Palestine protestors manufactured chaos at the Watergate Hotel last night so that Netanyahu, Israeli Mossad agents, and the Secret Service had no peace as they continue to terrorize our people. pic.twitter.com/hEc2HzL8Jb— Palestinian Youth Movement (@palyouthmvmt) July 24, 2024
They also claimed to have set off various fire alarms across the hotel overnight to ensure that Netanyahu and his delegation got “no rest” before the address Wednesday morning.
“There will be no rest before Netanyahu and Congress disgrace themselves in front of the world for failing to achieve any of their military and political objectives,” it said.
Thousands of protestors converged on Capitol Hill ahead of Netanyahu’s record fourth address to a joint sitting Congress, and the police had to use tear gas to disperse them at some locations.
BREAKING: Capitol police pepper-sprayed and tear gassed demonstrators who protesting against 10 months of genocide perpetuated by the US and war criminal Netanyahu who is speaking in front of Congress today. pic.twitter.com/u2Z5du9Z8w
— Palestinian Youth Movement (@palyouthmvmt) July 24, 2024
Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon took to a stage decked with banners including one declaring the Israeli leader a “Wanted War Criminal”, to condemn the war in Gaza.
“No one is free until everyone is free,” Sarandon said.
Nearby, demonstrators placed nearly 30 human-size cardboard coffins wrapped in Palestinian flags in memory of those killed in the war in Gaza. Traffic was barred from several roads near the Capitol.
“I want all aid (to) be suspended to Israel due to its actions in Gaza,” said Bradley Cullinan, who said he traveled to the area from Columbus, Ohio, 400 miles (640 km) away.
The protestors included members of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish group that carried Palestinian flags and signs reading “Free Palestine” and “Anti-Zionism is not antisemitism,” while another group of younger protesters danced to Arabic music while waving banners reading “Stop Arming Israel and “Stop War Crimes in Gaza.”
(With Inputs from Reuters)
