Dozens of pro-Palestine activists blocked major roads in downtown Washington D.C. on Thursday to protest the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.
The demonstrators, who chanted slogans and held signs condemning Israel and the United States, blocked traffic near the Lincoln Memorial for several hours.
Eight people were arrested by police, according to a statement from the Metropolitan Police Department
The protest was organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement, a group that advocates for Palestinian rights.
In a statement posted on Instagram, the group said the protest was aimed at drawing attention to the “genocide” being committed by Israel in Gaza.
The protest comes as the death toll in Gaza continues to rise.
According to the United Nations, more than 2,000 Palestinians, including more than 500 children, have been killed in the Israeli airstrikes.
The Israeli government has said the airstrikes are necessary to stop Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, from firing rockets into Israel.
The United States has condemned the violence on both sides and called for a ceasefire.
