Gaza War - Geisel-Family: Netanyahu's US-Speech is political theater
Shortly before meeting with US President Joe Biden and his Vice President Kamala Harris, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disappointed hopes for a swift weapons ceasefire in Gaza with a speech before the US Congress accompanied by protests. Relatives of eight American-Israeli hostages criticized the appearance as "political theater," according to Israeli media. With applause mainly from Republican ranks, Netanyahu dismissed criticism of his actions in Gaza.
"He missed the opportunity to present new solutions or a new way," reads a statement from the American hostages. "Above all, he missed the opportunity to acknowledge the peace agreement that is now on the table, although Israeli high-ranking defense and intelligence officials urged him to do so." Netanyahu's office confirmed just before his speech that he had canceled the planned departure of Israeli envoys to the indirect negotiations in Qatar.
Sharp Criticism of Netanyahu's Speech
This was the "worst performance by a foreign dignitary" who has had the privilege of speaking before the US Congress, wrote the former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, on the platform X. The Islamic Hamas accused Netanyahu of lying. "Netanyahu's speech about intensive efforts for the return of hostages is a flat lie and leads the Israeli, American, and international public into error," reads a Hamas statement.
Netanyahu did not announce a weapons truce agreement in return for the release of hostages during his speech, contrary to the hopes of hostages' relatives in the Gaza Strip. The expected departure of an Israeli delegation to the indirect negotiations in Qatar is now expected in the coming week, confirmed an Israeli representative. The exact date is still unclear.
USA remains optimistic
The US government remains optimistic and sees the negotiations as entering the "final phase." "It's time to come to terms," said a high-ranking US government representative. There are progress and it is assumed that the differences can be overcome. "There are some things we need from the Israeli side, no question," he said. But there are also "some important things" that only lie in the hands of the Hamas. He expects a lot of movement next week.
"I will continue to work to end the war in Gaza, bring all hostages home, and bring peace and security to the Middle East," said US President Biden. His relationship with Netanyahu is tense due to Netanyahu's military campaign. Netanyahu is accused by critics of prolonging the war for his own political advantage. He governs in a coalition with ultra-religious and right-wing parties, which reject concessions to the Hamas and threaten to bring down the government.
Reports of more dead hostages
Israeli soldiers reportedly seized the bodies of at least three more hostages during an operation in the Gaza Strip, according to media reports. The "Jerusalem Post" reported that one of them was a 56-year-old resident of a kibbutz on the border of the closed Gaza Strip. While the families of other deceased hostages were informed, Netanyahu "continued his PR tour through the USA" and "put on the brakes," according to the "Times of Israel," quoting the mother of one of the hostages held by Hamas.
Netanyahu's speech was met with loud protests around the Parliament building in Washington. Part of the crowd became violent, according to Capitol Police. Reports emerged of several arrests. At a Palestinian demonstration, the US government was called upon to stop military aid for Israel. Israel was accused of a "genocide" in the Gaza Strip, with Biden, Harris, and top US congressional leaders implicated. Netanyahu was labeled a war criminal.
Protests against Netanyahu
Six relatives of Israeli hostages, who attended Netanyahu's speech before the Congress, were reportedly arrested by Capitol Police and later released, according to Israeli media. They wore yellow shirts with the inscription "Seal the deal now." In Israel, hundreds of family members had gathered to follow Netanyahu's speech. They too expressed disappointment.
Netanyahu spoke contemptuously of the protests in his speech before both houses of the US Congress. The demonstrators were on the side of evil, "you are on the side of Hamas, you are on the side of rapists and murderers," he said. Directly to the demonstrators, Netanyahu, looking at the connections between Hamas and Iran, said: "You have officially become useful idiots of Iran." Many demonstrators had no idea what they were talking about.
Netanyahu: War ends only with victory over Hamas
Netanyahu confirmed that the war would end only with a victory over Hamas. He thanked the Biden administration for its support in the war and requested faster weapons deliveries. "Give us the means faster - and we will finish the work faster," Netanyahu said. A meeting with US Vice President Kamala Harris and democratic presidential candidate is also planned. On Friday, Netanyahu is scheduled to visit Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
His vision for the following day was "a demilitarized, deradicalized Gaza." Israel does not intend to resettle the Gaza Strip, but must maintain security control there for the foreseeable future, Netanyahu said. He spoke of a civil administration by "Palestinians who do not want to destroy Israel." For the Middle East, Netanyahu spoke of a security alliance between Israel and the US against Iran.
- Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the House, criticized Benjamin Netanyahu's speech before the US Congress as the "worst performance by a foreign dignitary."
- The Israeli Prime Minister's speech disappointed the relatives of American-Israeli hostages, who saw it as "political theater."
- In his speech, Netanyahu dismissed criticism of his actions in Gaza, receiving applause mainly from Republican ranks.
- The Hamas accused Netanyahu of lying, calling his speech about intensive efforts for the return of hostages a "flat lie."
- Netanyahu did not announce a weapons truce agreement during his speech, contrary to the hopes of hostages' relatives in Gaza.
- The US government remains optimistic about the negotiations, seeing them as entering the "final phase."
- Reports emerged of several arrests during protests against Netanyahu around the Parliament building in Washington.
- Protests against Netanyahu also took place at a Palestinian demonstration, with the US government being called upon to stop military aid for Israel.
- Netanyahu spoke contemptuously of the protests in his speech before both houses of the US Congress, labeling the demonstrators as "useful idiots of Iran."
- Netanyahu confirmed that the war would end only with a victory over Hamas and requested faster weapons deliveries from the Biden administration.
