During Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to a joint session of the US Congress, Palestinian American congresswoman Rashida Tlaib made a bold statement by holding up a sign that read ‘war criminal’. This one-person protest took place as thousands gathered outside to demonstrate against Netanyahu’s presence.
Tlaib has been shedding light on Israel’s brutal ongoing war on Gaza, with a death toll of over 39,145 Palestinians and over 90,000 injured. She attended the address with Hani Almadhoun, a Palestinian who lost over 150 family members in the conflict.
Tlaib’s actions were met with attempts to intervene by a floor staffer, but she persisted in making her message heard. Following the speech, she took to social media to reaffirm her commitment to speaking truth to power and standing in solidarity with protesters.
Many lawmakers and human rights defenders had condemned Netanyahu’s visit weeks before it occurred, leading to boycotts by dozens of Democratic members of Congress. The increased police security for the event did not deter Tlaib from expressing her views on the ongoing crisis in Gaza.