Netanyahu tells Congress Israel’s ‘fight is your fight’ amid boycotts and protests

Benjamin Netanyahu praised the United States for their backing during Israel's conflict in Gaza. However, he did not go into much detail about talks for a ceasefire as he spoke to a lively group of US Congress members. Many Democratic lawmakers chose to boycott the session, and outside the US Capitol, thousands gathered to protest.

During a powerful address in the House chamber, Netanyahu urged for complete success in the ongoing nine-month war. This dashed the expectations of some who were hoping for an update on progress towards a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages before his upcoming meetings with Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday.

"We are not just defending ourselves. We are defending you. Our adversaries are also your adversaries, our struggle is your struggle, and our success will benefit you," Netanyahu declared enthusiastically, prompting House and Senate Republicans to stand up and cheer for the Israeli prime minister.

Protesters outside the Capitol were sprayed with pepper spray by police as they chanted against Netanyahu for his actions. Streets in downtown Washington were blocked off to cars, and experienced officers from the NYPD were brought in to handle the large protest.

Many Democratic politicians, including Nancy Pelosi, who used to be the House speaker, chose not to attend the speech due to their worries about the way Israel has conducted the war in Gaza. Reports from Axios suggested that almost half of the Democratic lawmakers were not present during the joint session.

Pelosi criticized Benjamin Netanyahu's speech in the House Chamber, calling it the worst presentation by any foreign dignitary invited to address Congress. She mentioned spending time with families of hostages who are calling for a ceasefire deal to bring their loved ones home. Pelosi expressed hope that the Prime Minister would focus on working towards achieving that goal instead.

Bernie Sanders, who also refused to attend the speech, stated that "this marks a historic moment in American history where a person accused of war crimes is being honored." The United States does not acknowledge the international criminal court, which is currently reviewing a request from its prosecutor for an arrest warrant for Netanyahu (along with other Israeli officials and senior Hamas leaders) for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Netanyahu dismissed worries about the well-being of civilians in Gaza, claiming that Israel is not preventing the delivery of food aid to Palestinians. He asked the US to quickly provide military support to Israel, saying, “Just give us the necessary equipment and we will achieve our goals more efficiently.” He expressed gratitude to Biden for his strong support for Israel, and commended Trump for his leadership in his previous term.

Netanyahu did not provide any new information regarding discussions about a truce with Hamas. He simply stated that they are working hard to secure the release of the hostages, and some of these efforts are currently taking place.

Netanyahu and Biden are set to meet in Washington on Thursday. A top official in the Biden administration mentioned that they will talk about the ceasefire agreement. They acknowledged that a framework has been established between Israel and Hamas, but there are still significant issues that need to be addressed.

"I anticipate that the meeting won't be straightforward with a simple yes or no answer," the spokesperson expressed. "It's more about figuring out how we can resolve these remaining differences. We require certain things from Israel, that's for sure. However, there are also critical factors that only Hamas can control."

Netanyahu stated that Israel has no plans to relocate residents of Gaza after the conflict, but emphasized the need for the territory to be demilitarized and rid of radicalization. He described this as his vision for Gaza.

Netanyahu also gave a controversial message to those who criticized the war, trying to appeal to Republicans by calling anti-war college protesters "Iran's useful idiots".

Netanyahu said that many protesters against Israel choose to side with wickedness. He mentioned that many show support for Hamas.

Law enforcement officers at the Capitol apprehended multiple individuals from the crowd who were sporting shirts with the phrase “Seal the deal NOW!” As Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, the sole Palestinian American representative, delivered her speech, she raised a black-and-white placard accusing the speaker of being a "war criminal" and "guilty of genocide".

Netanyahu spoke to Congress for the first time since the October 7th attack by Hamas. Over 1,200 Israelis were killed and 250 were taken hostage. It is believed that 120 hostages are still being held.

During discussions with the families of hostages this week, Netanyahu mentioned that a truce agreement might be developing, but also stated that he would continue to apply pressure on Hamas and insist on favorable conditions.

Several hostage families have asked him to make a deal as fast as he can. "I must say, he didn't seem to understand the urgency of the situation," said Daniel Neutra, whose brother Omer is one of eight American hostages. During a House panel meeting, some people in the audience wore yellow shirts with the words "Close the deal NOW!"

The chaos in US politics has taken attention away from Netanyahu's trip to Washington this week. Biden said on Sunday that he won't run for president again and supports Vice-President Kamala Harris as the top choice to beat Donald Trump in the election in November.

Harris was not at the House podium on Wednesday, explaining that she had a prior commitment. She then issued a statement clarifying that she had not intentionally avoided the speech.

Itamar Ben Gvir, the Israeli minister who supports far-right ideologies, publicly backed Donald Trump in the recent elections. He stated that as a cabinet minister, he should remain neutral, but he found it impossible to do so after Joe Biden's victory.

During a conversation with Bloomberg right before Netanyahu's scheduled speech, Ben Gvir claimed that Biden has been holding back Israel from taking strong action against its regional adversaries, such as Iran.

"I think that Trump will support Israel in taking action against Iran," Ben Gvir stated. "Under Trump's leadership, it will be more evident that enemies need to be overcome."

The United States has historically provided support to Israel with weapons and military equipment. However, this time it felt like we were being challenged, as if someone was trying to stop us from succeeding," stated Ben Gvir. "This occurred during Biden's presidency and only served to empower Hamas."

Netanyahu is scheduled to have meetings with both Harris, the likely Democratic nominee, on Thursday, and with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday. Harris usually would have been seated directly behind Netanyahu, but she mentioned that she had a previous commitment to speak at a sorority event in Indianapolis.