US Lawmaker Hold Ups “War Criminal” Sign During Netanyahu’s Congress Speech
Read Time:3 Minute, 21 Second
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to a joint session of the US Congress on Wednesday sparked controversy and division among lawmakers and US citizens. Representative Rashida Tlaib, the sole Palestinian-American member of Congress, held up a sign labeling Netanyahu a “war criminal” and “guilty of genocide” during his speech today.
Tlaib, a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, was joined by Hani Almadhoun, a Palestinian who has lost numerous family members in the conflict.
Tlaib was accompanied by an invited guest, Hani Almadhoun, a Palestinian who has lost more than 150 members of his extended family since Israel launched its war with the aim of destroying Hamas.
“After witnessing his sister forced to eat animal feed, he and his family were determined to start a soup kitchen to feed their starving neighbors,” Tlaib wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Outside the Capitol, thousands of protesters demonstrated against Netanyahu’s visit, with some being kept back by police using pepper spray. Six protesters were arrested inside the House of Representatives before Netanyahu began speaking. While some lawmakers gave Netanyahu a standing ovation, others chose to stay away.
Netanyahu’s US visit comes amid growing concerns over the humanitarian toll of Israel’s nine-month ground invasion in Gaza, with Americans deeply divided on the issue. Netanyahu’s speech highlighted the sharp divisions within the US Congress and the country at large on Israel’s actions in the region.
In his address, Netanyahu said only military pressure can free the hostages and defeat Hamas, which launched a shock attack on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of 1,197 people, mostly civilians.
Netanyahu said he was “confident” in efforts to secure the release of the 114 hostages still in Gaza, where Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 39,145 people, also mostly civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
He also used his address to call for a global alliance against Iran, which he accuses of funding anti-Israel protests. He also slammed ceasefire demonstrators and praised President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump for their efforts towards Middle East peace.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address a joint meeting of Congress on July 24 amid his nation’s ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza, two sources familiar with the date confirmed to NBC News.
The timing of the address was first reported by Punchbowl News and comes after all four leaders in Congress issued a formal invitation to Netanyahu at the end of last month.
In their May 31 letter, Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries asked Netanyahu to appear before Congress “to share the Israeli government’s vision for defending democracy, combatting terror, and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region.”
Several Democrats have already indicated they plan to boycott the speech over Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza or have otherwise expressed concern that his address could deepen tensions in Congress.
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin said Tuesday that he wouldn’t have invited Netanyahu to address Congress unless the Israeli leader committed to a two-state solution first.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., referred to the Israeli prime minister as a “war criminal” during an NBC News interview this week and said that he would not attend the speech.
President Joe Biden has publicly criticized Netanyahu’s handling of the war in recent months and has said that more needs to be done to to ensure humanitarian aid flows into Gaza.
The same day congressional leaders extended their invitation to Netanyahu, Biden announced that Israel had put forward a three-part plan that he said would pave the way for a permanent cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and trigger the release of all hostages who have been held there since October. That proposal appeared to be undermined a day later, when Netanyahu called a permanent cease-fire in Gaza a “nonstarter” unless certain conditions are met
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0
