Dave Matthews, the face of the Dave Matthews Band, made an appearance in Washington D.C. to protest the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

He told Al Jazeera, “It’s a disgusting show of support for someone that doesn’t deserve our support. I’m ashamed that my tax dollars are going to the brutalizing of an entire people.” The Council on Foreign Relations reports that the United States has sent over $310 billion of aid to Israel to date, being the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign aid.

Those at the protest demanded a ceasefire and expressed their anger over the United States positive welcoming to the Prime Minister. Netanyahu gave a speech to Congress, urging their continued backing of Israel in their ongoing attacks on Palestine which were spurred following the Oct. 7 hostage incident.

They further assert that Netanyahu and Israeli is committing genocide agains the Palestinian people under the guise of targeting domestic terrorist group Hamas. They’ve advocated for a free and safe Palestine, but the protest became rowdy and controversial when some agitators burnt the American flag in protest of America’s support to Israel and defaced federal buildings.

The United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on human rights, Francesca Albanese, previously backed the stance and said during a press conference that “Israel committed three acts of genocide with requisite intent: killing members of the group, causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group, and deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.”

Netanyahu made several startling and controversial comments, saying that anti-Israel protestors “stand with rapists and murderers.” He claimed that Palestinians today are raised to “hate Jews” and said that the deaths of 39,000 (as of July 25) Palestinian civilians, caused by Israeli attacks is a “travesty” to the country, but a “strategy” to Hamas. 2.3 million people have, additionally, been dislocated.

The world leader thanked President Biden for his ongoing support. On the other side of the aisle, he also thanked former President Trump. He said: “I also want to thank President Trump for all the things he did for Israel, from recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, to confronting Iran’s aggression, to recognizing Jerusalem as our capital and moving the American embassy there. That’s Jerusalem, our eternal capital never to be divided again.”

He concluded: “Thank you, America. Thank you for your support and solidarity. Thank you for standing with Israel in our hour of need. Together, we shall defend our common civilization. Together, we shall secure a brilliant future for both our nations. May God bless Israel. May God bless America. And may God bless the great alliance between Israel and America forever.”