Senior Hamas official, Bassem Naim has criticised Washington for receiving Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who is accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity including genocide.
“Enabling him from the highest platforms in the country to spread his lies, is a bad omen for you,” Naim wrote in a statement.
“Receiving a war criminal in direct contradiction to all your values of freedom, justice and dignity is the last stop in the series of lies and hypocrisy that you are practicing and sets a new stage that portends the demise of this greatest empire in human history.
“In our literature in the east, we say: ‘A regime of injustice lasts but an hour, while a regime of justice endures until the end of time.’ Countries that practice or support injustice are bound to disappear; it may not be tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, but it is an inevitable fate.”
Bassem Naim
He added that the correct step for law-abiding countries is to “issue an immediate order to arrest the war criminal Netanyahu… in line with the decisions of international judicial institutions,” the latest of which was the decision of the International Criminal Court.
“Our people will not forget and will not forgive anyone who wronged them or supported those who wronged them,” Naim added.
Speaking from besieged Khan Younis, Kazem Abu Taha, a displaced Palestinian from southern Rafah, expressed disbelief as the Israeli Prime Minister prepares to address the US Congress.
“Netanyahu is embraced by the Americans. He is being provided with food and drinks. He is being hosted in Congress while we are being slaughtered,” he said.
“Where should we go? Where are the Arab nations? Where are the Arab people? Where are the people who have morals in the European nations who welcome this monster who kills,” Abu Taha stated.
“The United States is a main partner in what is happening in Gaza. We are being killed because of the United States. We are being slaughtered by American planes, American ships, American tanks… Everything that we are being killed with is American. [President] Biden blesses any operation and any killing and any massacre.”
Abu Taha
Empty Chairs Anticipated During Netanyahu’s Address At Congress
There will be empty seats in the Capitol as Netanyahu addresses the Congress later today, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, amid growing criticism over his war conduct in Gaza.
The boycott is a sign of dissatisfaction, particularly among progressive Democrats, over the US’s unwavering support of Israel – a cause that has traditionally rallied bipartisan support among Americans.
Vermont Senator, Bernie Sanders is among the lawmakers who plan to boycott Netanyahu’s speech, reminding Senators of the ongoing hunger, destruction to housing and damage done to Gaza’s health and educational system.
He condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming address to the US Congress, calling him a “war criminal” presiding over a “rightwing extremist government.”
Sanders said that Netanyahu should not be welcome in the United States Congress.
Also, New York’s Democrat Congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Alexandra said that she would boycott the address of “a war criminal.”
She added that it’s “a sad day in US history when an authoritarian with warrant requests” from the International Criminal Court is allowed to address Congress.
Michigan’s Rashida Tlaib said it’s “utterly disgraceful that leaders from both parties have invited him to address Congress”, also mentioning that Netanyahu should have been arrested and sent to the ICC.
Ilhan Omar of Minnesota said she would not be present and gave her guest tickets to a family member of a captive.
Washington Representative Pramila Jayapal told a news gency that it was a “bad idea” to invite Netanyahu.
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