Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters arrested on Capitol Hill ahead of Netanyahu visit

Approximately 200 people were arrested Tuesday during a pro-Palestinian protest in a congressional building the day before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address lawmakers.

The demonstration, which took place in the Cannon House Office Building, was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace.

U.S. Capitol Police said they warned protesters, who were chanting pro-Palestinian slogans, before the arrests began that demonstrating in the building was unlawful.

No one appeared to resist arrest. Capitol Police lightly tapped protesters on the shoulder to stand up, arrested them with white zip ties and escorted them out of the building slowly.

Stefanie Fox, the executive director of Jewish Voice for Peace, said Netanyahu's upcoming address to a joint session of Congress was the reason for the protest.

“For nine months, we’ve watched in horror as the Israeli government has carried out a genocide, armed and funded by the US. Congress and the Biden administration have the power to end this horror today. Instead, our president is preparing to meet with Netanyahu and Congressional leadership has honored him with an invitation to address Congress," Fox said in a statement.

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., was watching the protestors get arrested from the third floor and later told NBC News that the protest was "an embarrassment."

"You know, frankly, these folks continue to spew pro-Hamas talking points, continue to spew anti-American, anti-Israel hatred," Lawler said, adding that "many of them don’t seem to recognize the irony that if they were actually in Gaza, Hamas would very likely kill them."

Democratic Michigan Rep. Dan Kildee's chief of staff Mitchell Rivard said in a statement that his office was forced to call Capitol