Extract from ABC News
In short:
Thousands of protesters blocked the streets around the US Capitol building ahead of a speech by Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Israeli PM is addressing the US Congress, asking for its continued support in the war in Gaza.
What's next?
Mr Netanyahu is set to meet with US President Joe Biden later this week, as well as the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been met with thousands of protesters demanding his arrest during a visit to Washington, where he's pressing Congress to continue to support his war in Gaza.
Throngs of protesters calling for an end to Israel's occupation and assault on Gaza blocked roads around the Capitol building, carrying an effigy of the Israeli leader's face and hands, covered in blood.
Mr Netanyahu was invited to address Congress by the Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate, in a show of solidarity with Israel. He is also due to meet with President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump while in the US.
In his speech to Congress, Mr Netanyahu framed the conflict as a "clash between those who glorify death and those who sanctify life", and thanked Mr Biden for his ongoing support for Israel.
"He dispatched two aircraft carriers to the Middle East to deter a wider war, and he came to Israel to stand with us during our darkest hour, a visit that will never be forgotten," Mr Netanyahu said.
"I want to thank him for half a century of friendship to Israel and for being as he says, a proud Zionist."
His visit comes as Israel's bombardment of Gaza enters its 10th month, with more than 39,000 Palestinians killed and 1.9 million displaced from their homes, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
More than 100 people are still being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, and hopes of a hostage deal to secure their release have stalled.
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court requested an arrest warrant for the Israeli leader in May, over war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Israel-Gaza war. Three ICC judges are yet to decide on the request.
And last week, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories — including the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem — is illegal under international law.
Mealworms, maggots released in hotel
Protesters from multiple groups, who are demanding an end to the Israeli bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip and the safe return of all hostages, have been staging demonstrations against Mr Netanyahu's visit since his arrival on Monday (local time).
Many are targeting their frustrations at Mr Biden and the US Government's provision of billions of dollars worth of munitions, including thousands of 2,000-pound bombs used in bombardments on Gaza's heavily populated cities.
The night before Mr Netanyahu's address, pro-Palestinian protesters focused their attention on the Watergate Hotel where he and his entourage were staying.
Organisers for the Palestinian Youth Movement shared videos showing hotel conference tables covered in mealworms and maggots, and crickets crawling across the marbled lobby floors. They also said they'd triggered fire alarms overnight "to ensure there will be no rest" before the Israeli leader's speech.
Demonstrators later blocked off six major intersections near the Capitol building, as police shut down roads and bolstered security in the area and near the White House.
A large police presence watched on, as the crowd moved their demonstration towards the Capitol building ahead of Mr Netanyahu's address. Some officers donned face masks as protesters yelled: "Shame on you!"
Netanyahu 'does not speak for us'
Rabbis were among the speakers, and ultra-Orthodox Jews with pro-Palestinian placards were a prominent presence at the front of the throng.
Abby Stein, a Jewish rabbi from New York, said it was important to her as an American-Israeli to make it known that the Prime Minister did not speak for her.
"It makes me angry, it makes me mad and sad. The fact that this is the person who is claiming to speak for Jews, who is claiming to speak for Israel, who is claiming to speak for hostages … most of them don't want a war," she said.
"It's very clear by now that he's using them as props to justify this genocidal war.
"It's not just that this isn't the way, it's that this is wrong. The war is wrong, the killing is wrong, it's unjustifiable. And on top of that it's not keeping us safe."
Salal Elwani drove five hours from Ohio to Washington to join the protests.
"I can't comprehend that a criminal like Netanyahu is allowed to talk in the Congress here," she told the ABC.
Ms Elwani said her nephew, a doctor in the Israeli-occupied city of Jenin in the West Bank, was killed by an Israeli sniper two months ago. She said she felt Mr Biden was "no better" than the Israeli leader.
"President Biden – Genocidal Joe – we don't count on him to be better than Netanyahu, because he's the one who gave Netanyahu the green light … he's providing him with all the weapons to flatten Gaza."
Boycotts in Congress
Mr Netanyahu was greeted by House Speaker Mike Johnson as he arrived at the US Capitol.
His speech has been punctuated by frequent applause from members of Congress.
But more than a dozen said they were planning to boycott the address.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, progressive independent senator Bernie Sanders and some of the Democratic congresswomen known as the "Squad", including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar, were among them.
Republican Thomas Massie said he was boycotting because he did not want to be a "prop" in theatre designed to bolster Mr Netanyahu's political standing.
Dozens of congressional staffers were also protesting against the speech. The New York Times reported almost 100 interns in the House and Senate staged a "sick-out" and called on their bosses to boycott Mr Netanyahu's address.
Mike Prentice, who travelled from Boston to help with logistics for the protest, said it was "crazy" that Mr Netanyahu had been given "VIP treatment" in the US.
"I have no hopes for that meeting [between Mr Biden and Mr Netanyahu]," he said.
"I think they're just figuring out Biden's exit strategy and the transitional process that will happen to make sure the next administration uses our current policies."
Mr Prentice said it was important to him to highlight for the rest of the world that not all Americans supported their government's policies in arming Israel.
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