In his speech to the U.S Congress, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu dashed hopes among some that he would announce progress toward a ceasefire and the return of Israeli hostages.
Netanyahu struck a defiant tone, calling for America and Israel to stand together.
He promised to bring home the hostages trapped in Gaza, thanked Democrats and Republicans for their support and vowed to destroy Hamas.
However, by the end of his speech, it was clear the Israeli Prime Minister had focused far more on fighting until victory in Gaza than brokering a ceasefire deal.
“Give us the tools we need, and we will finish the job,” Netanyahu urged members of Congress.
“We will fight until we achieve victory,” he vowed.
“Israel will fight until we destroy Hamas’ military capabilities, end its rule in Gaza, and bring all our hostages home,” he said at yet another point.
“We’re not only protecting ourselves. We’re protecting you … Our enemies are your enemy, our fight is your fight, and our victory will be your victory.”
Benjamin Netanyahu
Netanyahu did not offer new insight on negotiations about a ceasefire with Hamas, saying only that “we’re actively engaged in intensive efforts” to secure the hostages’ release.
He added that “some of those efforts are ongoing right now.”
Responding to Netanyahu’s speech to US Congress, the Hostage and Missing Families Forum in Israel, said in a statement, “(The) speech and applause won’t erase the one sad fact: the words ‘Deal Now!’ were absent from the Prime Minister’s address.”
Also in his address, Netanyahu brushed aside humanitarian concerns for the civilian population of Gaza, denying that Israel was blocking shipments of food aid to Palestinians.
Netanyahu denied that Israel would seek to “resettle” Gaza when the conflict ended, but demanded the “demilitarization and deradicalization” of the territory, calling it his “vision for Gaza.”
“Gaza should have a civilian administration run by Palestinians who do not seek to destroy Israel. That’s not too much to Israel. It’s a fundamental thing that we have a right to demand and receive.
“Demilitarization and deradicalization – those two concepts were applied to Germany and Japan after World War II and that led to decades of peace, prosperity and security. Following our victory, with the help of regional partners, the demilitarization and deradicalization of Gaza can also lead to a future of security, prosperity and peace.”
Benjamin Netanyahu
He also made several claims that attempted to defend the Israeli military’s conduct in Gaza and the enormous number of civilian casualties caused by Israel’s war in Gaza.
He said the International Criminal Court’s allegation that Israel is starving people of Gaza is “nonsense” and a “complete fabrication.”
Additionally, Netanyahu claimed there were “practically” no civilian casualties during Israeli military operations in Rafah.
He repeated his claim that Israel has one of the lowest rates of civilian casualty in warfare, a claim that has been repeatedly rebuffed and debunked by numerous military experts, including former US generals, who say Israel takes insufficient precautions to avoid civilian casualties.
Netanyahu Slams Critics Of Israeli War
Moreover, the Israeli Prime Minister delivered a provocative message against critics of the war, calling anti-war college protesters “Iran’s useful idiots.”
“Many anti-Israel protesters choose to stand with evil. Many stand with Hamas,” Netanyahu averred.
As Netanyahu delivered his speech to Congress, protesters at Union Station were seen burning US flags and depictions of Netanyahu.
The US Park Police arrested eight people following protests outside of Washington DC’s Union Station that included burning an American flag and destroying property.
Protesters spray painted the phrase “Hamas is comin” and climbed the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle, which is outside of Washington’s main train station.
Protesters also flew Palestinian flags on flagpoles in front of the station and burned a papier-mâché effigy of Netanyahu.
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