Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu delivered a speech lasting approximately one hour at a joint session of Congress upon the invitation of US Congressional leaders.
He compared the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, to the 1941 Pearl Harbor and 2001 Twin Tower attacks in the United States, and thanked US President Joe Biden for his support of Israel in the Gaza attacks and for saying that he was a “proud” Zionist.”
Netanyahu claimed that statements about the killing of civilians in Gaza were “lies” and added, “Despite all the lies you hear, Gaza is a city with the lowest civilian death toll in terms of combatants and non-combatants.”
- Netanyahu stressed that Israel was making great efforts to protect civilians in Gaza and held Hamas responsible for civilian deaths.
- He also claimed that they had allowed “more than 40,000 people” of aid trucks to pass through Gaza, and that the reasons civilians were suffering from food shortages was not because Israel was obstructing it, but because Hamas was stealing the aid.
Throughout Netanyahu’s speech, members of the US Congress applauded at the end of each sentence.
Netanyahu said Israel had no intention of “resetting” Gaza and would maintain heavy security control. He also said they would fight until Hamas’ military power and control of Gaza was eliminated.
Netanyahu, who did not mention the ceasefire negotiations during his speech, noted that a guest invited to the congress was wearing a T-shirt that read “Sign the agreement now.”
Criticizing pro-Palestinian prosecutors in the United States, Netanyahu claimed that “Iran is funding these prosecutors” and said, “You have officially become Iran’s fools.”
Rashida Tlaib, the only US Congresswoman of Palestinian origin, was seen holding a sign that read “War criminal” throughout Netanyahu’s speech.
