Israel's massacre receives standing ovation in US Congress: Support inside, backlash outside

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who gave a speech at the US Congress in Washington, received a standing ovation when he arrived at the podium. Netanyahu said, "Israel does not seek to resettle Gaza. We want to see a civilian administration in Gaza that does not seek to destroy Israel and is led by Palestinians."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that "no civilians were killed" in the situation in the city of Rafah in Gaza, where thousands of Palestinians have been killed.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu gave a speech lasting approximately 1 hour at a joint session of Congress upon the invitation of US Congressional leaders.

Arguing that the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, were similar to the 1941 Pearl Harbor and 2001 Twin Towers attacks in the US, Netanyahu thanked US President Joe Biden for his support for Israel in the Gaza attacks and for stating that he is a "proud Zionist."

Netanyahu claimed that statements regarding the killing of civilians in Gaza were "lies," asserting, "Despite all the lies you have heard, Gaza is the place in the history of urban warfare where the ratio of non-combatant civilians killed to combatant casualties is the lowest."

Stating that he went to Rafah last week and met with Israeli army commanders, Netanyahu claimed that when he asked how many civilians were killed there, he received the answer that "no civilians were killed, except for a single incident where a piece of shrapnel from a bomb hit a Hamas armed operative and therefore unintentionally killed two dozen people."

Netanyahu claimed in his speech at the US Congress that 'no civilians were killed in Rafah'https://t.co/QYImeWCDHZ pic.twitter.com/un6hotNpV9

— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) July 24, 2024

Netanyahu said, "For the foreseeable future, we need to maintain overriding security control in Gaza."

The Israeli Prime Minister continued his remarks as follows: I want to thank you. You have given me this honor. We are at a crossroads. Iran's terror in the Middle East is targeting Israel and the US. For civilization to win, Israel and the US must stand side by side. Because when we stand side by side, a very simple thing emerges. We win, they lose. And my friends, I have come to give you this promise today: 'We will win'.

"WE ARE WORKING TO RELEASE THE HOSTAGES"

On the morning of October 7, the whole world saw the footage of Noa being taken to Gaza on the back of a motorcycle. I spoke with her mother. She was a cancer patient. She made a request of me.

'I want to see and hug my daughter one last time before I die,' she said. We rescued 4 hostages, including Noa. When Noa reunited with her mother, her mother's last wish was fulfilled.

Many hostage families are here with us. The families of American hostages are also here. The suffering these families are enduring is beyond words.

As we speak, we are actively working to secure the release of the hostages.

CALL TO THE US

I make this call to the US. Give us the tools faster and we will finish the job faster. The war in Gaza could end tomorrow. If Hamas surrenders and releases all the hostages. But if they do not, Israel will continue until Hamas's military capabilities are destroyed. This means total victory. We will not accept anything less. After defeating Hamas, a new Gaza can emerge. Israel does not want to govern Gaza, but we must maintain security. Because Gaza must not be a threat to Israel.

STATEMENT FROM HAMAS

Hamas stated, "Netanyahu's speech shows us that he does not want a ceasefire."

REACTION FROM VICE PRESIDENT YILMAZ TO NETANYAHU'S SPEECH AT THE US CONGRESS

Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz commented on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech at the US Congress, stating, "The shameful reception received in the US Congress by a leader who is a defendant before the International Court of Justice for committing genocide in Gaza is concerning for the future of humanitarian values, international law, and democracy."

Vice President Yılmaz, in a statement on his social media account regarding Netanyahu's speech at the US Congress, noted the following:

"The shameful reception received in the US Congress by a leader who is a defendant before the International Court of Justice for committing genocide in Gaza is concerning for the future of humanitarian values, international law, and democracy. Against the perceptions created by lobbies and dominant media channels, the common sense of humanity and the power of truth are our greatest support. Together with all virtuous people and governments of the world, we will continue to stand by humanitarian law, the oppressed Palestinian people under occupation, and to defend justice and peace for everyone."

REACTION FROM MINISTER OF JUSTICE TUNÇ TO NETANYAHU'S SPEECH AT THE US CONGRESS

Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç reacted to the speech of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu at the United States (US) Congress.

In a post on his social media account, Minister Tunç stated, "It is a shame for humanity that Netanyahu, who does not comply with the UN Security Council's ceasefire resolution, continues the genocide despite the International Court of Justice's interim measures for genocide, for whom an arrest warrant has been requested by the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on the grounds of committing genocide, and who has massacred more than 40 thousand innocent civilians, including children, women, young and old, since October 7, is allowed to speak in the US Congress."

Stating that the speech harms the peace efforts that are intended to be achieved, Tunç said, "I strongly condemn this attitude, which clearly harms the efforts for peace and stability that are intended to be achieved. Supporting Netanyahu and Israeli officials, who are condemned in the conscience of humanity, will not prevent them from being held accountable before international law. As Turkey, we will continue to stand by our Palestinian brothers and sisters whose lands have been under occupation for years, and to defend justice, fairness, and peace in the world."

PROTESTERS BLOCKED TRAFFIC

Thousands of people who gathered to express their reactions to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's Gaza policy blocked traffic on Pennsylvania Avenue, the main route between the White House and Congress in Washington.

In addition to American Muslims and Palestinians, numerous Jewish non-governmental organizations and human rights activists who oppose Netanyahu's policies also came together to protest the Israeli Prime Minister.

THOUSANDS CHANTED SLOGANS

The demonstrators, carrying banners with slogans such as "Ceasefire in Gaza now," "Genocidal Bibi," "Genocidal Biden," and "Free Palestine," frequently chanted slogans against Netanyahu.

The protesters, who were not allowed near the Congress building where the police had taken extensive security measures, continued their protests throughout the day on the main arteries between the White House and the Congress building.