Beirut: Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside the White House on Monday to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington ahead of his scheduled meeting with US President Donald Trump. Waving Palestinian flags, protesters held signs criticizing US support for Israel. Among the messages on display were "Stop US / Israel war machine," "Expose Israel's control of Washington," and "Palestinian human rights matter too."

According to Anadolu Agency, the demonstration took place as Netanyahu arrived in Washington, DC for talks with Trump at the White House on Tuesday. This will mark Netanyahu's eighth meeting with Trump since the president was elected to his second term. Following his meeting with Trump, Netanyahu is scheduled to attend a memorial service for the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a longtime supporter of Israel.

The US has long faced criticism for its support of Israel in the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, where more than 73,000 people, most of them women and children, have been killed since Tel Aviv initiated a war beginning on October 7, 2023. In a related development, a recent poll has shown that nearly half of US adults believe Netanyahu should be arrested if he visits the United States. The Economist/YouGov poll, conducted from July 25 to 27, surveyed 1,559 US adults and found that 49% supported arresting Netanyahu, 27% opposed it, and 23% were unsure.

The poll revealed significant political divisions, with 74% of 2024 Kamala Harris voters backing Netanyahu's arrest compared to 23% of Donald Trump voters. Support was also high among Democrats at 68%, 55% among independents, and 24% among Republicans.