Washington, D.C. — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu encountered widespread protests and a divided Congress during his visit to the U.S. capital. On Wednesday, Netanyahu addressed lawmakers, seeking Washington’s support amidst ongoing tensions in Gaza.
“We are currently making intense efforts to secure the release of the hostages. I believe these efforts will succeed,” Netanyahu stated.
Dozens of Democratic lawmakers boycotted Netanyahu’s speech in response to Israel’s attacks on Gaza and the resulting humanitarian crisis, which has led to the deaths of nearly 40,000 Palestinian civilians, many of whom are women and children.
“America and Israel must stand together,” Netanyahu began, receiving applause and cheers from Republicans, while Democrats responded more tepidly.
This marked Netanyahu’s fourth address to a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives, surpassing wartime British leader Winston Churchill’s three addresses.
Protests and Security Measures
In nearby streets, thousands of protesters gathered under the tightest security since the January 6, 2021, attack. The Capitol was surrounded by high fences and a heavy police presence.
Palestinian advocacy groups, Jewish organizations, and university students, who have been protesting Israeli actions in Gaza for months, highlighted the reported deaths of nearly 40,000 Palestinians and the displacement of nearly the entire 2.3 million population.
Netanyahu was accused of committing genocide in Gaza, yet he praised the Israeli military and condemned Hamas’ attacks. His remarks received applause from Republicans, while many Democrats remained silent.
Republican leaders organized this visit, but it was less confrontational than Netanyahu’s previous visit in 2015 when he criticized Democratic President Barack Obama’s Iran policy.
During this visit, Netanyahu aimed to strengthen ties with Republicans and ease tensions with President Joe Biden. Netanyahu described the anti-war protesters in Washington as “anti-Israel” and accused them of being “useful idiots” financed by Iran, holding Hamas responsible for reports of starvation in Gaza.
Lawmakers Who Boycotted
Some lawmakers expressed discomfort with appearing to support Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition government. The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor announced in May a request for an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Others urged Netanyahu to focus on securing a ceasefire agreement and the release of all hostages taken by Hamas on October 7.
Senator Chris Van Hollen stated, “This is all about shoring up his domestic support, and I don’t want to participate. I don’t want to be a prop in this fake show. He is not a great protector of the U.S.-Israel relationship.”
Republican Representative Thomas Massie also announced he would not attend. “The purpose of Netanyahu’s address to Congress is to bolster his political position in Israel and to suppress international opposition to his war. I don’t want to be a prop, so I won’t be attending,” he wrote.
Prominent Democrats who boycotted the speech included Senators Dick Durbin, Tim Kaine, Jeff Merkley, and Brian Schatz, members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray, and House members Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ami Bera, Joaquin Castro, House Armed Services Committee Chair Adam Smith, and Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro.
Senator Smith said, “I am very, very opposed to what Netanyahu is doing in Israel.”
Netanyahu addressed a joint session of the Senate and House in a city preoccupied with internal politics.
Biden and Harris
Biden announced on Sunday that he would not run for re-election and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Harris did not attend the speech as Vice President. Republican Senator JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, also did not attend.
In Harris’s absence, Murray was to preside as the senior Senate Democrat. Democratic Senator Ben Cardin would lead the foreign relations committee.
Biden and Harris are scheduled to meet Netanyahu on Thursday, pressing him for progress on a ceasefire with Hamas and the release of hostages. Harris has sometimes gone further than her boss in criticizing Israel over heavy Palestinian civilian casualties in Gaza.
Netanyahu is set to travel to Florida to meet with Trump. This will be their first meeting since Trump’s presidency ended.
‘Deal Now’: Israeli Hostage Families Protest Netanyahu’s U.S. Speech
In Tel Aviv, hundreds of Israelis carrying flags and hostage posters marched down a busy street on Wednesday, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza as Netanyahu addressed the U.S. Congress.
“Get out of the air conditioning, get out of your houses, come to the street!” shouted one protester through a microphone to those watching from bars and balconies in Israel’s largest city.
“We are not a parade! Here you see the families of children who were kidnapped from their beds,” they cried. “This could have been your family.”
Despite Israel’s staunch ally continuing its support for the war effort and military supplies, rising civilian deaths and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza have strained relations and sparked protests in the U.S. There has been increasing criticism from the Biden administration.
Netanyahu reiterated that military force is the only way to defeat Hamas, promising military victory at the Capitol.
Responding to Netanyahu’s speech, the Israeli campaign group Hostage and Missing Families Forum stated, “Forty-five minutes of speech and applause do not change the sad reality: the words ‘Deal Now!’ were not present in the Prime Minister’s speech.”
‘A Shame to Our Country’
In Tel Aviv’s “hostage square,” relatives of those kidnapped by Hamas called for the cessation of violence.
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, I want to tell you, my grandfather could have been with us today, waiting for someone to come and rescue him,” said Talya Dancyg to the gathering crowd.
“My grandfather was waiting for you to make the deal,” she continued, two days after it was announced that her grandfather had died in captivity in Gaza.
“Every passing day and our people still there is a shame to our country,” she added.
Protesters chanted, “Deal Now.”
Netanyahu finds himself caught between hostage families and the government’s right-wing faction, which has threatened to collapse the government if a ceasefire agreement is reached.
“You told families not to lose hope,” said Omri Shtivi, who was taken hostage at the Nova music festival.
“I haven’t lost my hopes, but the hostages have… Every decision you make will shape our future, and if you want us to keep our hopes, you just need to say ‘there is a deal.’”
