It started with a Jewish mourning prayer and a recitation of the names of people who have lost their lives since Hamas’ attack on Israel.

Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 7,000 Palestinians in the last three weeks and the country continues to block aid from reaching the Gaza Strip, where millions of Palestinians are trapped without water, electricity or food.

Then, members of Jewish-led organization If Not Now occupied the offices of four Democratic Congress members — including U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders — to issue their demands. Their most urgent is a plea to Sens. Sanders, Chuck Schumer and U.S. Reps. Hakeem Jeffries and Katherine Clark to sign legislation that calls on the Biden Administration to issue an immediate ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine and expedite humanitarian aid to millions of Palestinians in Gaza.

When representatives declined to meet with protestors, they spilled into the hallways, where Capitol Police arrested them on charges of crowding, obstructing or incommoding.

Leah Harris was arrested as she sat cross-legged on the carpet outside Sanders’ office. Harris had hoped the Democratic Socialist senator’s anti-war stance could sway him to join other progressive Democrats in signing the resolution. Introduced by U.S. Rep. Cori Bush on Oct. 16., it received immediate support from Congress’ “Squad” members and human rights groups. Eighteen House Democrats have signed it so far.

“We were hopeful that he could be moved by us speaking to him as fellow progressive Jews,  but that was unfortunately not the case. And, to say I’m disappointed, is the understatement of the year,” Harris said.

Hundreds of Sanders’ former staffers share Harris’ disappointment. On Wednesday, more than 365 of them signed a letter calling on him to support a ceasefire and asking him to introduce companion legislation to the Ceasefire Now Resolution, as well as support efforts to stop military funding for what they called the continued occupation of Palestinian land and war crimes against its people, and end the blockade in Gaza.

“We write today to ask you, as one of the strongest advocates for peace and justice in Congress, to once again stand for what is right and speak the truth when so many others will not,” the letter reads. It credits Sanders for ushering in a shift in the public’s view of Palestinians. 

But, Sanders continues to echo Secretary of State Antony Bilinken’s sentiments, reiterating Israel’s “right to defend itself,” and calling for a humanitarian pause, a temporary cessation of fire often confined to a particular region for purely humanitarian reasons. Sanders restated his position in a speech on the Senate floor yesterday. The speech was met with resounding disappointment from many of his supporters online.

“We should be addressing the root causes of the violence. [A pause] doesn’t address the illegal occupation that has been going on for decades now,” Harris said. “America’s government is beyond complicit in enabling this through unrestricted military aid. The killing will resume after the pause. A ceasefire is the only way.”