Police, protesters clash in Knesset after Arab MK accuses Israel of Gaza 'massacre'

Hadash-Ta'al MK and faction leader Ayman Odeh was taken out of the Knesset plenum after he made remarks opposing IDF's war on Hamas in Gaza on Wednesday.

He began by quoting a statement made on Wednesday by former Health Minister and Israeli ambassador to France, Yael German, on the hunger in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war. 

He then said, "I appeal to you to be a real opposition against this government and its crimes in Gaza," he told the Knesset plenum.

"מה שהצבא עושה שם זה רצח, זה טבח - הרעבה של ילדים" - ח"כ איימן עודה הוצא מהמליאה בעקבות אמירותיו נגד צה"ל והביקורת על המצב ההומניטרי בעזה@AyOdeh@GermanYael1@hanochmilwidsky pic.twitter.com/k5uRwELAeo

— ערוץ כנסת (@KnessetT) March 20, 2024

"What the army is a crime, it's killing, it's murder, it's a massacre," he shouted. His remarks were met with severe protests from other MKs, and he was removed from the Knesset plenum.

In response, Odeh's party Hadash wrote on X, Odeh "was taken off the Knesset podium by a Likud MK. Odeh was removed for demanding the rest of Israel's 'opposition' to do its job and criticize the massacre and starvation Israel is inflicting on Gaza. The Knesset is de facto preventing anti-war speech."

Protesters try to tie themselves to Knesset fences 

Furthermore, on Wednesday, protestors against the government arrived at an area adjacent to the Knesset, under the government jurisdiction, tried to tie themselves to the Knesset fences, and were blocked by security, according to the police.

Two additional protestors tied themselves to the car handles of a vehicle that was blocking an emergency exit on the premises. 

The police said the protestors did not listen to their instructions, and a police officer subsequently gave a dispersal order. The policemen dispersed the protestors, and they were moved back to the sidewalk to continue protesting legally.

The police said it had arrested five protestors