Pro-Palestine protesters have dumped thousands of maggots, mealworms and crickets inside the Washington hotel where Benjamin Netanyahu was staying.

Footage released by the Palestinian Youth Movement showed swarms of the insects crawling and leaping around the marble floors and banquet tables of the Watergate Hotel.

The group also claimed to have set off multiple fire alarms “to ensure that there will be no rest before Netanyahu and Congress disgrace themselves in front of the world”.

The stunt has raised serious questions about how the protestors managed to get inside the property which was under tight security. Hotel residents reported that the Secret Service and city police set up checkpoints to vet anyone who entered.

In a statement, Watergate Hotel said it was aware of the video and “the unfortunate incident that occurred at the property yesterday”.

“We took the necessary steps to ensure the property has been sanitised and is now operating as normal. We are cooperating fully with authorities, who are handling the situation,” it added.

Thousands of protestors rallied outside the Capitol building to protest against the Israeli prime minister’s speech to the US Congress on Wednesday, which was snubbed by more than 80 Democrats, including presidential hopeful Kamala Harris.

Mr Netanyahu is the only foreign leader to have addressed Congress since Winston Churchill.

In his fiery speech, his fourth to Congress, he praised Donald Trump and branded the protestors “Iran’s useful idiots” who “stand with rapists and murderers”.

Mr Netanuyahu sought to bolster waning US support for Israel’s war against Hamas, asking the US to “stand together” with its ally, and signalled that a ceasefire deal could take shape after nearly 10 months of war.

However, the Israeli leader vowed to press forward with the war until he achieves “total victory” despite the mounting death toll which is said to have surpassed 39,000, according to Gazan authorities in the Hamas-run Strip.

Meanwhile, outside, protestors ripped down an American flag outside Union Station, near Congress, and replaced it with a Palestinian flag. Others burnt an effigy of Mr Netanyahu and police were forced to use pepper spray as they marched closer to the Capitol.

Mr Netanyahu is expected to meet with both Mr Biden and Ms Harris separately in Washington, before flying to Mar-a-Lago in Florida, to see Trump on Friday.