In a joint address to U.S. Congress on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Israel would continue its offensive in Gaza until “total victory” against Hamas, and called for continued U.S. support.
Netanyahu’s speech arrived as Israel remains embroiled in its more than nine-month war in Gaza following Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and resulted in about 250 hostages, of which around 120 remain held.
Israel has since engaged in numerous air and ground offensives, ravaging much of Gaza while displacing more than 2.1 million Palestinians and killing upward of 39,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, per the Associated Press (AP).
House Speaker Mike Johnson, along with many other Republicans, welcomed the Israeli leader, while more than 50 congressional Democrats skipped Netanyahu’s address in an act of protest. He was greeted with a standing ovation.
Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s stance to Congress, stating, “Israel will fight until we destroy Hamas’ military capabilities and its rule in Gaza and bring all our hostages home.”
“That’s what total victory means. And we will settle for nothing less,” he added.
Israel has continually said its forces target Hamas militants in the territory, but the war has seen record civilian deaths.
Netanyahu thanked President Joe Biden for his continued longtime support of Israel, saying, “President Biden and I have known each other for over 40 years. I want to thank him for half a century of friendship to Israel.” He is scheduled to meet with Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday.
“America and Israel must stand together. When we stand together, something really simple happens: We win, they lose,” Netanyahu told Congress. The U.S. is Israel’s strongest ally and provides billions in military aid.
Netanyahu, who arrived in Washington, D.C., on Monday, has been met with several demonstrations against his leadership and war decisions. Thousands of protesters gathered outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, many calling for his arrest.
Five protesters were removed from the House Gallery and arrested, accused of disrupting Netanyahu’s address, U.S. Capitol Police posted on X, formerly Twitter.
In his speech, Netanyahu called war protesters who have taken to the streets and college campuses over the past few months as “Iran’s useful idiots,” referencing Israel’s adversary. He also accused demonstrators of standing with militants, and that they “should be ashamed of themselves.”
Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib, who is Palestinian with family in the West Bank, held a sign reading “war criminal” during Netanyahu’s speech.
Newsweek filled out a contact form with the Israeli prime minister’s office on Wednesday.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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