Washington, July 25: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a fervent defense of Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza to the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, condemning American protesters and facing boycotts from numerous Democratic lawmakers. His speech, which drew thousands of protesters to the Capitol, emphasized the need for unwavering U.S. support amid a deepening humanitarian crisis.
Nine months into the conflict, Netanyahu promised to continue the war until achieving “total victory” over Hamas and other Iran-backed groups. He wore a yellow pin in solidarity with Israeli hostages held by Hamas and declared, “America and Israel must stand together. When we stand together something really simple happens: we win, they lose.”
As Netanyahu’s speech progressed, he harshly criticized the demonstrators outside the Capitol, calling them “useful idiots” for Israel’s adversaries. While many lawmakers applauded, leading Democrats remained silent, refusing to stand in support.
Inside the House chamber, freed hostages of Hamas and their families listened to Netanyahu’s address. Several lawmakers were escorted out after displaying protest slogans calling for a ceasefire and the release of all hostages. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat, held a sign reading “war criminal” and was visibly emotional during the speech.
Netanyahu accused U.S. protesters of siding with militants responsible for the October 7 attack by Hamas. He stated, “These protesters that stand with them, they should be ashamed of themselves.”
Facing growing criticism in Israel, Netanyahu aimed to project himself as a respected statesman. However, the increasingly divided American views on the conflict have made this task challenging, especially with the war emerging as a significant issue in the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
Heightened security measures were in place around the Capitol, with police using pepper spray to control the large crowd of protesters. Netanyahu received a warm welcome from House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican leaders who arranged his speech, receiving a bipartisan standing ovation.
Noa Argamani, an Israeli hostage freed in Gaza, attended the speech. Netanyahu’s appearance marked his fourth address to a joint meeting of Congress, surpassing Winston Churchill. More than 50 Democrats, including Bernie Sanders, boycotted the event. Vice President Kamala Harris was notably absent due to a long-scheduled trip.
Netanyahu is scheduled to meet President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris on Thursday, followed by a meeting with former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday. Demonstrators outside the Capitol protested the high civilian toll in Gaza and Netanyahu’s handling of the hostage situation.
Support for Israel remains a significant factor in U.S. politics, but Netanyahu’s visit has highlighted the growing political turmoil and differing views on the conflict. While some Democrats called for new elections in Israel and criticized Netanyahu’s leadership, others met with families of hostages and expressed their anger towards him.
The Biden administration has pushed for a focus on achieving a ceasefire and securing the release of hostages. Netanyahu’s visit comes under the shadow of arrest warrants sought by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes against Palestinians. The U.S. does not recognize the ICC.
Netanyahu’s U.S. visit aims to garner support for continuing the battle against Hamas and confronting other Iranian-allied groups in the region. He also focused on Iran’s nuclear program, describing it as the main threat to both the U.S. and Israel.
