Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the U.S. Congress on Wednesday. His speech took place during a period when the unity of Palestinian groups was celebrated in Beijing and significant steps towards peace between Ukraine and Russia were being made by China. Netanyahu's address was marked by calls for war and controversial claims.Reactions in Congress and Content of the Speech
In his speech, Netanyahu proposed a new military alliance against Iran, which he suggested should be named the "Abraham Alliance." He claimed that Iran’s influence in the Middle East threatens American interests and asserted that during the conflict, Iran-backed groups have caused harm to American interests.Claims on Civilian Casualties: Netanyahu claimed that only “two dozen” people had died due to an explosion at a Hamas munitions depot in Rafah. However, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that approximately 70% of the casualties in Gaza were women and children.Criticism of International Organizations: Netanyahu harshly criticized the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the United Nations. He accused the ICC of attempting to restrict Israel’s actions and highlighted that the UN described the hunger crisis in Gaza as being at a “crisis level.”Post-War Plans: Netanyahu called for maintaining security control in Gaza and preventing any resurgence of terrorism. He also indicated that the war would continue “until victory” without mentioning a ceasefire agreement.Congressional Reactions and Global Implications
The response to Netanyahu’s speech in Congress was mixed, particularly among Democratic lawmakers. Many Democrats boycotted the speech, while Netanyahu’s statements were applauded by some Republicans. The support Netanyahu received from Congress has raised questions about Western policies and their stance on human rights.Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned Congress’s acceptance of Netanyahu, criticizing the West for ignoring violations of Palestinian rights. Palestinian leaders stated that Netanyahu’s speech was misleading and aimed at obscuring the successes of the resistance.Netanyahu’s visit has been seen as revealing the true nature of Western policies and the failure of efforts to garner international support.