Hundreds rally outside US Capitol to demand arms embargo against Israel

WASHINGTON  – Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators rallied outside the US Capi­tol on Saturday to demand an end to Israel’s genocide in the Gaza Strip as well as a US arms embargo and sanctions on Israel. Pro­testers waved Palestin­ian flags and carried large signs denouncing the geno­cide in Gaza and Israel’s oc­cupation of Palestinian ter­ritories. Some signs drew attention to the economic costs of US wars, linking military spending to high prices and low wages at home. Organised by the Palestinian Youth Move­ment and other pro-Pales­tinian groups, the rally and march marked three years since the start of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza in October 2023. Urging re­newed pressure on Wash­ington for its military and diplomatic support for Is­rael, organisers demanded an “absolute arms embargo and sanctions” on Israel. Nouhad Akkar of the Pal­estinian Youth Movement told Anadolu that the dem­onstrators are determined to hold elected officials ac­countable for US military assistance to Israel. “We will not let this genocide be normalised,” she said.