Pro-Palestinian protests inflame tensions in Washington over the Israel-Hamas war

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The pro-Palestinian protests that erupted in Washington during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to a joint session of Congress drew condemnation Thursday from political leaders. It was the latest inflection point as the protests have persisted around the United States since Israel responded to Hamas' terrorist attack in October. The war has engulfed the Gaza Strip, with hostages still being held there by Hamas. Protesters outside Union Station on Wednesday. Matthew Hatcher / AFP via Getty Images The protesters have called for a cease-fire and criticized America's ongoing support for Israel, mostly in the form of weapons. Opponents of the protests say they ignore the ongoing hostage situation and echo the talking points of a terrorist organization. A smaller group of protesters returned Thursday to demonstrate outside the White House, where Netanyahu was scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Joining several Republicans who condemned the protests on Wednesday, Harris, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both New York Democrats, forcefully criticized the protesters on Thursday, with Schumer telling NBC News, “What happened at Union Station was vile, offensive, wrong.” Harris, in her statement, called out “despicable acts by unpatriotic protestors” and called their rhetoric “dangerous and hate-fueled.” Workers clean graffiti from a statue outside Union Station on Thursday, a day after hundreds of protesters marched against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's address to Congress. Ginger Gibson / NBC News She also condemned “any individuals associating with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas” and “the burning of the American flag.” Jeffries told reporters at the Capitol that “it is unacceptable to deface public property, desecrate the American flag, threaten Jews with violence, or promote terrorist organizations like Hamas.” The protest on Wednesday was originally led by the ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition and grew to thousands ahead of Netanyahu's speech. Waving flags and chanting, the protesters clashed with Capitol Police at barricades set up near the Capitol and then grew more heated when they reached Union Station, a few blocks away. Protesters vandalized statues in front of Union Station (a major Amtrak stop), removed and burned the American flags from the flagpoles and replaced them with Palestinian flags. Several flash bangs were heard, believed to be set off by protesters in the middle of Massachusetts Avenue, one of the main streets that feeds a circle in front of the train station. In several instances, police deployed pepper spray against the protesters and several were arrested. During his speech Wednesday, Netanyahu condemned the protesters, accusing them of standing for evil and "for Hamas." Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday. Roberto Schmidt / AFP - Getty Images "From all we know, Iran is funding the anti-Israel protests that are going on right now outside this building," the prime minister said, adding: "Well, I have a message for these protesters. When the tyrants of Tehran, who hang gays from cranes and murder women for not covering their hair, are praising and promoting and funding you, you have officially become Iran’s useful idiots." The statements from Democrats come as support for Israel's war against Hamas has become a political problem for the party. Nearly half of congressional Democrats skipped Netanyahu's speech on Wednesday, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, of California, and former House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, of South Carolina. In recent weeks, more Democrats have called on Netanyahu to accept the terms of a cease-fire deal announced by President Joe Biden in May that would help bring home the remaining Israeli and American hostages held by Hamas.