Netanyahu appears confident before US Congress regarding the fate of the hostages
The Israeli prime minister referred to the ongoing negotiations in Doha and thanked US President Joe Biden for his "unrelenting efforts in the interest of the hostages." During Netanyahu's speech, a 26-year-old former hostage, Noa Argamani, was present in the audience. She was freed by the Israeli army from Hamas' custody at the beginning of June.
Netanyahu is heavily criticized in Israel regarding the hostages' fate. For months, massive demonstrations have accused him of not doing enough for their release.
Protests against Netanyahu took place at the Capitol in Washington on Wednesday. Thousands of people demanded a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Some demonstrators carried Palestinian flags.
Upon entering the House of Representatives chamber, the Israeli prime minister was greeted with applause and cheers from opposition Republicans, while Democratic parliamentarians kept a respectful distance from President Biden.
The relationship between Biden and Netanyahu is tense. While the Biden administration has supported Israel militarily in the ongoing conflict against Hamas in the Gaza Strip since October, Biden has criticized Israel's military conduct in recent months.
In his Congress speech, Netanyahu emphasized that the US and Israel "must stand together." This is necessary, he said, so that "the forces of civilization triumph." He denounced an "axis of terror" in the Middle East, which he claimed threatened the US, Israel, and "our Arab friends." The Hamas and other anti-Israel armed groups, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, are allegedly supported by Tehran.
Biden and Netanyahu are scheduled to meet on Thursday. However, Netanyahu is also planning a meeting with the former US president and potential new presidential candidate Donald Trump in a US state on Friday. Netanyahu had a much closer relationship with Trump during his presidency than he does now with Biden.
The war between the Israeli army and Hamas in the Gaza Strip was triggered by a record attack by radical Islamists on Israel on October 7. According to Israeli reports, 1195 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip. 116 hostages are still being held, 44 of whom are reportedly dead.
As a response to the attack, Israel has been militarily active in the Gaza Strip since then. According to the health ministry controlled by Hamas (which cannot be independently verified), over 39,100 people have been killed in the meantime.
- Netanyahu expressed gratitude to Joe Biden for his efforts in Doha, specifically in aiding the hostages' situation.
- Noa Argamani, a 26-year-old former hostage, attended Netanyahu's speech in Doha, having been freed from Hamas' custody in June by the Israeli army.
- The United States Congress witnessed protests against Netanyahu on Wednesday, with attendees demanding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
- During his speech in the House of Representatives, Netanyahu was met with applause and cheers from opposition Republicans, while Democratic parliamentarians maintained a discreet distance from President Biden.
- As the US-President, Biden has had a tense relationship with Netanyahu, providing military support to Israel while criticizing its recent military conduct.
- In his Congress speech, Netanyahu emphasized the importance of the US and Israel standing together to combat the "axis of terror" in the Middle East, which allegedly includes Hamas and other anti-Israel armed groups.
- In a surprising turn of events, Netanyahu is planning to meet with former US President Donald Trump in a US state on Friday, despite having a closer relationship with Trump during his presidency than with Biden currently.
