Watergate Hotel 'has been sanitized' after maggots released to protest Netanyahu stay

The Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C., said the building was sanitized and is now operating normally after protestors reportedly released maggots during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stay at the hotel on Tuesday.

Videos circulated Wednesday on social media showing piles of maggots, meal worms and crickets on carpeting and a table at the Watergate Hotel. One user on X said the table, which had Israeli and American flags next to it, was being used by Netanyahu, who arrived in Washington earlier this week to deliver a joint address to Congress.

A spokesperson for Watergate told The Hill it is aware of the circulating videos, calling it an "unfortunate incident" that occurred Tuesday.

"Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our guests and staff. We took the necessary steps to ensure the property has been sanitized and is now operating as normal. We are cooperating fully with authorities, who are handling the situation," the spokesperson wrote.

It was not immediately clear which authorities were leading the investigation. The Hill reached out to the hotel and Netanyahu's office for further comment.

The D.C., Maryland and Virginia chapter of the Palestinian Youth Movement reposted a video of the maggots on Instagram and said fire alarms were also set off for more than 30 minutes in the building "to ensure there will be no rest before Netanyahu and Congress disgrace themselves in front of the world."

"There will be no peace, there will be no rest, until the war criminal’s arrest," the Instagram post caption read.

The demonstration took place a day ahead of Netanyahu's speech to a joint session of Congress. The speech was boycotted by a number of Democrats over Netanyahu's refusal to end the war and inability to secure the release of hostages taken during Hamas's Oct. 7 attack.

A coalition of advocacy groups gathered around Capitol Hill to protest the speech and demand the arrest of Netanyahu, who has been charged with war crimes by the International Criminal Court.

Judy Kurtz contributed reporting.