Egypt Daily News – The speech delivered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Congress yesterday, Wednesday, revealed the extent of his isolation, as a large number of members of the House of Representatives boycotted the speech, and negative comments rained down on it from Democratic representatives who rejected his prolongation of the Gaza war and violation of humanitarian and international laws.
Criticism from Democrats surrounds Netanyahu after his congressional speech
According to the British newspaper The Guardian, dozens of Democratic members of Congress – including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi – said they boycotted the speech due to humanitarian concerns about how Israel is continuing the war in Gaza, which left an estimated 39,000 Palestinian civilians martyred.
Axios reported that nearly half of Democratic lawmakers were absent from the joint session.
“Benjamin Netanyahu’s presentation on the House floor today was the worst presentation of any foreign dignitary invited and given the honor of addressing the US Congress,” Pelosi wrote on X’s website after the speech.
She continued: “All the families of the detainees are demanding a ceasefire agreement that will return their families to their homes, and we hope that Netanyahu will work and reveal an effort to achieve this goal.”
Bernie Sanders: Senator Sanders, who also boycotted the speech, said: “This will be the first time in American history that a war criminal has been given this honor.”
A British newspaper reported that the International Criminal Court, which is not recognized by the United States, requested the Attorney General to issue an arrest warrant against Netanyahu (and other Israeli officials and senior Hamas leaders) on charges of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Netanyahu ignored the humanitarian concerns of the civilian population in Gaza
According to the newspaper, Netanyahu ignored the humanitarian concerns of the civilian population in Gaza, denied that Israel was blocking food aid shipments to the Palestinians, and issued a call for the United States to accelerate military aid to Israel: “Give us the tools and we will work to get the job done faster,” and thanked Biden for his “sincere support for Israel.” , while also praising Donald Trump for his “leadership” during his first term.
He did not present any new vision regarding ceasefire negotiations with Hamas
The newspaper reported that Netanyahu did not present any new vision regarding negotiations on a ceasefire with Hamas, saying only: “We are actively participating in intensive efforts to secure the release of detainees,” adding that “some of these efforts are continuing now.”
Netanyahu also delivered a provocative message against critics of the war, appeasing Republicans when he described anti-war protesters on campuses as “Iran’s useful idiots.”
“Many anti-Israel demonstrators choose to stand with evil, many stand with Hamas,” Netanyahu said.
The newspaper added that American political turmoil greatly put pressure on Netanyahu’s visit to Washington this week, as Biden announced on Sunday that he would not seek re-election, considering that Vice President Kamala Harris is the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump at the ballot box in November.
Harris was absent from the House podium on Wednesday, saying she had a previous engagement, and later issued a statement denying that she had boycotted the speech.
