Sen. John Fetterman triggers anti-Israel protesters by waving Israeli flag

Sen. John Fetterman set off a crowd of pro-Hamas protesters on Capitol Hill Thursday by waving a small Israeli flag in their direction — and joking that his post-stroke condition rendered their demonstration incoherent to him.

“Shame!” and “What a joke!” the booing protesters shouted as Fetterman (D-Pa.) emerged from the Russell Senate Office Building proudly holding a small Star of David flag above his head, according to footage posted on X by the group About Face: Veterans Against the War.

“What do we want? Cease-fire! When do we want it? Now!” demonstrators also chanted, with some accusing Fetterman of “doing a disservice to Pennsylvania” and supporting the “genocide” of Palestinians.

The 54-year-old also said to one heckler that he couldn’t “fully understand what you’re saying” after suffering a stroke on the campaign trail last year that has notably impeded his ability to process what people say.

A spokesman for Fetterman’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the incident.

Several protesters were later arrested by US Capitol Police, About Face noted in its post.

“Jackass @JohnFetterman saw veterans getting arrested and laughed,” the group said. “We asked to see @SenGillibrand. We were put in cuffs.”

“We need leaders who listen to veterans demanding a #CeaseFireNow,” it added.

Fetterman, who was elected as a progressive in 2022, has emerged as a staunch supporter of Israel in the wake of Hamas’ brutal Oct. 7 terror onslaught, which killed more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians — including 33 American citizens.

Around 240 people were also taken hostage by Hamas jihadists and are being held in the Gaza Strip, where the Israel Defense Forces has conducted airstrikes on the terror group’s commanders and begun a ground assault.

“In my front office I have displayed the posters of the innocent Israelis kidnapped by Hamas,” Fetterman said in a video posted on X earlier this week.

“They will stay up until every single person is safely returned home.”

Fetterman has also met with several survivors of the terror attack and families of those taken hostage, while insisting that it is too soon to discuss ending the conflict.

“We must support Israel in efforts to eliminate the Hamas terrorists who slaughtered innocent men, women, and children,” the senator wrote Oct. 18 on X.

“Hamas does not want peace, they want to destroy Israel. We can talk about a cease-fire after Hamas is neutralized.”

The former Pennsylvania lieutenant governor has remained a harsh critic of congressional Republicans’ effort to decouple US military aid for Israel from a separate aid proposal for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s invasion.

The first-term senator, who is often seen in the halls of the Capitol wearing his signature Carhartt hoodie and gym shorts, had some rough words last month about one memo authored by Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) proposing just such a funding split.

“F–k that,” Fetterman said on X.

Congress is deliberating a final Israel and Ukraine funding package to be sent to President Biden’s desk, with the House having passed $14.3 billion in military assistance to the Jewish state last week.