Hundreds of people have attended a peace protest near the US Capitol.
The activists rallied in Washington DC, calling on President Joe Biden’s administration and Congress to press for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
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Demonstrators are led out by US Capitol police officers
Some activists wore T-shirts with slogans, including one which read: “Jews say ceasefire now”
Some 200 protesters, many from the group Jewish Voice for Peace, filled part of the Cannon House Office Building near the Capitol building, chanting: “The world is watching.”
A group of around 500 other protesters blocked off Independence Avenue outside.
Some wore black T-shirts emblazoned with messages including “Jews say ceasefire now” and “not in our name”.
US Capitol police said officers began arresting protesters who refused to comply with orders to leave the area.
Protesters march past the US Capitol
It comes amid claims and counter-claims from Israel and Hamas over an explosion at a hospital in Gaza – which has triggered worldwide protests.
Hamas officials claim more than 500 people were killed in the explosion at the al Ahli hospital on Tuesday.
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However, Israel claims the explosion was from a rocket fired by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group – an Islamist militant group based in Gaza which is smaller than Hamas but shares a similar ideology.
Israel says 1,400 of its citizens were killed in the surprise attack by Hamas militants on 7 October.
The Gaza health ministry says at least 3,478 Palestinians have been killed and 12,000 others have been wounded since then in Israel’s retaliatory strikes.
