Hundreds of Jewish activists calling for a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas were removed from the U.S. Capitol during a sit-in protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit.

Netanyahu delivered a speech to both houses of the U.S. Congress on the state of the war he launched in response to Hamas' Oct. 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel and the taking of about 240 hostages.

The war has lasted 291 days and has resulted in nearly 40,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza, according to health officials in the Hamas-run territory.

Families of Israeli hostages, including Rachel Goldberg-Polin, are calling on Netanyahu to make a deal to bring back their loved ones, with Goldberg-Polin's son Hersh among the roughly 80 captives still believed to be alive.

Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris during his visit to Washington.