Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a defense of Israel’s conduct in the Gaza war during a scathing address to Congress, calling for U.S. support against Hamas. Despite citing an unverified intelligence report, Netanyahu ignored criticism of the conflict which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians and destruction of Gaza.
Netanyahu claimed that Israel has allowed aid trucks into Gaza and accused Hamas of stealing from the people, but the United Nations and aid groups refute this, stating that distributing aid is difficult due to ongoing military operations. Additionally, Netanyahu accused protesters of being influenced by Iran without providing evidence, despite U.S. intelligence reports suggesting Iranian involvement in inciting protests.
The Israeli leader also defended his military’s actions in Gaza, stating that they have taken measures to protect civilians, while criticizing Hamas for endangering civilians by using them as human shields. However, there have been numerous instances of Israeli airstrikes causing civilian casualties, and Gaza’s Health Ministry has reported a devastating impact on the civilian population.
Netanyahu failed to address the intelligence and security failures that allowed Hamas to breach Israel’s defenses, as well as the prolonged captivity of hostages taken during the conflict. While Israelis largely support the war, there is growing public demand for a cease-fire and criticism of Netanyahu’s handling of the conflict.
As the conflict continues to devastate Gaza and claim the lives of thousands, Netanyahu’s speech to Congress highlighted the deep divide and complexity of the situation in the region.
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