Israeli minister branded ‘war criminal’ in U.S. Capitol showdown

Free-Palestinian protesters inside US Congress confronted far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir

WASHINGTON (MNTV) — In a rare and dramatic scene inside the U.S. Capitol, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was confronted by free-Palestinian protesters who branded him a “war criminal” and accused him of backing genocide in Gaza.

The altercation unfolded on Monday, as the far-right Israeli official met with Republican lawmakers.

Chanting “Shame on you!” and “Free, Free Palestine,” the demonstrators interrupted his visit with shouts of condemnation and calls for justice, triggering an angry verbal outburst from Ben-Gvir, who labeled them “terrorists” and “baby killers.”

According to videos circulating on social media, the Israeli minister stormed toward the demonstrators, separated only by security personnel, and shouted back in defiance before entering the office of a Republican lawmaker.

“You belong in The Hague!” one protester shouted, invoking the International Criminal Court, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant currently face arrest warrants over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Ben-Gvir later took to social media, accusing the protesters of promoting terrorism and likening their chants to support for the 9/11 attackers.

“We will defeat them!” he declared, posting a photo of himself defiantly standing in the Capitol.

Despite the protests, Ben-Gvir was welcomed by several high-profile Republican lawmakers, including Jim Jordan, Claudia Tenney, Mike Lawler, and Brian Mast.

The meetings reportedly covered extreme policy proposals such as the death penalty for Palestinian attackers, restrictions on Muslim worship at Al-Aqsa Mosque, and support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza — including his controversial call to bomb food and aid warehouses.

The minister claimed U.S. Republicans backed his proposals, further fueling criticism from rights groups and Democratic legislators who remained notably absent from the talks.

Beyond Washington

Beyond Washington, Ben-Gvir’s presence in the U.S. ignited backlash in other cities, particularly in New York.

During a visit to the Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights, protests erupted into physical altercations. Several arrests were made as pro-Israel and free-Palestinian groups clashed in the streets.

In one especially harrowing incident, a local Brooklyn woman was brutally assaulted by a mob of Orthodox Jewish men who mistook her for a protester.

She was encircled, spat on, kicked, and pelted with objects.

“They threatened to rape me,” she told Sky News.

“I thought the police would help, but they did nothing.” A lone officer eventually rescued her and drove her to safety.

Sky News obtained video of the incident, where attackers were heard shouting: “This is America. We got Israel. We got an army now.”

Police confirmed one arrest and five summonses, but offered no clarity on whether the attackers were held accountable.

Rabbi Motti Seligson, a spokesperson for the Chabad movement, condemned the violence and called for restraint from both sides.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) issued a strong rebuke, demanding Ben-Gvir’s expulsion from the U.S. and describing him as a “racist and war criminal.”

The organization said his presence legitimized state-backed oppression of Palestinians and undermined America’s commitment to human rights.

Ben-Gvir’s record has long alarmed rights groups. A staunch supporter of illegal West Bank settlements, he was convicted in Israel for inciting racism and supporting a terrorist organization. For years, he kept in his home a portrait of Baruch Goldstein, the man who massacred 29 Palestinian worshippers in Hebron in 1994.

Ben-Gvir’s visit came as Gaza entered its second month under total Israeli blockade.

The Capitol clash has sharpened global scrutiny of U.S.–Israel relations.

Experts argue that by hosting Ben-Gvir, U.S. lawmakers risk legitimising far-right extremism and enabling war crimes.

As the images of the confrontation spread across the globe, calls for accountability — not just for Israeli officials, but for their international enablers — are growing louder.