How do you think Netanyahus speech to Congress where he pledged total victory against Hamas will be received by the American public ?
As Israel's catastrophic offensive on Gaza approaches its one year, resulting in an escalating humanitarian crisis and raising concerns of a broader regional conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was receiving praise during his visit to the United States, which has offered vital military and political backing for the war.
The premier, who may soon encounter arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes in Gaza, had his first international visit since the onset of the war, addressing Congress amidst demonstrations both inside and outside the US Capitol.
Netanyahu has pledged to persist in his military campaign until Hamas is eliminated and has requested assurances from the Biden administration over the continuation of US support, notwithstanding tensions surrounding Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip and the postponement of American arms shipments.
Since the onset of the war on October 7, Netanyahu and the Israeli defense establishment have endeavored to garner international support and empathy by reiterating claims that have been thoroughly debunked.
They said that Hamas beheaded babies and placed them in ovens at an Israeli kibbutz during the group's incursion on October 7, an allegation initially repeated by US President Joe Biden, who subsequently withdrew it. There was no proof this happened; yet, Netanyahu repeated the false claims during his address in Congress.
Israel has frequently claimed that Hamas's utilization of civilian infrastructure justifies its attacks on schools and hospitals, resulting in the devastation of Gaza's healthcare system and UN-operated shelters. This claim has likewise never been proven.
A particularly shocking moment for viewers occurred when Netanyahu claimed that Israel had not killed civilians in southern Gaza.
"I asked the commander there, how many terrorists do you take out in Rafah? He gave me an exact number, 1,203," Netanyahu stated, referring to a chat he had with an Israeli commander in the southernmost city of the Gaza Strip.
"I asked him, how many civilians were killed? He said, prime minister, practically none. With the exception of a single incident where shrapnel from a bomb hit a Hamas weapons depot, and unintentionally killed two dozen people," he said.
"The answer is, practically none. You want to know why? Because Israel got the civilians out of harm why, something the people said we could never do, but we did!"
The statement received cheers from the attending Congress audience.
Social media users characterized the prime minister's claim that the vast majority of victims were militants rather than civilians as one of "the most disgraceful" moments.
Over 41,000 people in the enclave have been killed as a result of Israel's shelling and debilitating siege, which has brought the coastal region to the verge of famine, with more than 90,000 injured. The Lancet medical journal provides a further estimate indicating that the death toll may surpass 180,000.
The majority of the enclave's population, over 2 million people, has seen numerous displacements.
"Netanyahu's speech to Congress was one of the most horrifying things I've ever seen. A series of lies and an endless stream of genocidal propaganda, and the vast majority of these politicians just stood up and clapped at every single line. Genocidal freaks, all of them," commented one user on X.
CNN's Jeremy Diamond characterized the claim concerning civilian casualties as "laughable."
The Jerusalem correspondent for the American news network broke down several of Netanyahu's claims, including those regarding aid. The journalist defended the ICC, which asserts that Israel is obstructing humanitarian aid from reaching the enclave in its genocidal war.
In his address, Netanyahu sought to counter the ICC accusations, claiming that Israel was making every effort to protect civilians and claimed that 40,000 aid trucks had entered Gaza since the onset of the war, amounting to around half a million tons of food.
Diamond stated, "He [Netanyahu] talks about big numbers of aid getting in, but there is very, very clear evidence—you talk to any humanitarian organization that works on the ground in Gaza, the United Nations, and even when you look at Israel the way they turned on and back off the faucet of aid to Gaza, there is clear evidence that Israel has not always allowed enough aid in, that they have not done enough to deconflict militarily to provide safe routes for that aid to get in."
Humanitarian organizations have lambasted Israel for failing to facilitate the delivery of urgently required aid to Gaza. Following Israel's seizure of control over the Gaza side, humanitarian aid has piled up on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing.
Approximately half of the Democratic members of the US House of Representatives abstained from attending Netanyahu's address. Palestinian-American legislator Rashida Tlaib, who was there, displayed a sign that stated "War Criminal" and "Guilty of Genocide."
As she rose to present the sign, Netanyahu was met with a standing ovation by Tlaib's colleagues.
Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stated that Congress must fill vacant seats resulting from the representatives' decision to boycott.
The New York representative stated on X that "Netanyahu has lost so many people that he is addressing just a fraction of Congress,"
"When this happens, they fill the seats with non-members, like what they do at award ceremonies, in order to project the appearance of full attendance and support."
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who participated in the boycott, criticized Netanyahu on X. However, her concerns primarily stemmed from the Israeli leader's resistance to a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, not Israel's actions in Gaza.
The Democratic California representative wrote on X:
"Benjamin Netanyahu’s presentation in the House Chamber today was by far the worst presentation of any foreign dignitary invited and honoured with the privilege of addressing the Congress of the United States,"
"Many of us who love Israel spent time today listening to Israeli citizens whose families have suffered in the wake of the October 7th Hamas terror attack and kidnappings," she continued, expressing hope that Netanyahu would spend his time reaching a ceasefire deal.
Netanyahu failed to acknowledge the negotiations with Hamas mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. The families of the remaining detainees in Gaza have urgently appealed for a deal to secure their release, attributing the obstruction of an agreement to Netanyahu and his administration.
Israel reports that approximately 120 captives are still in Gaza, out of roughly 250 taken by Hamas and other Palestinian fighters on October 7. Palestinian factions are attempting to exchange captives for Palestinian captives in Israeli detention.
US Senator Bernie Sanders slammed Netanyahu as a war criminal and a liar.
"Netanyahu is not only a war criminal. He is a liar. All humanitarian organisations agree: Tens of thousands of children face starvation because his extremist government continues to block aid. Israelis want him out of office. So he came to Congress to campaign," the Vermont Senator stated on X.
Vice President and current Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris did not attend the Wednesday speech due to prior commitments, nor did she welcome Netanyahu upon his arrival at the tarmac.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in the streets of Washington, DC, lambasted Netanyahu's visit, resulting in several arrests. Hundreds were detained when activists from Jewish Voice for Peace protested within the Congress building.
In addressing the demonstrators, Netanyahu stated: "You have officially become Iran's useful idiots."
A significant amount of his address concentrated on Iran and Iranian-supported groups in the Middle East that are presently engaged in altercations with Israel alongside the war in Gaza, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.
International observers express concern that a miscalculation may result in a broader regional conflict, particularly involving the heavily armed Hezbollah group.