Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint meeting of Congress on July 24, his fourth time before Congress, drawing support from lawmakers in attendance and some criticism from both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian parties.
In his speech, Netanyahu emphasized the importance of the relationship between Israel and the United States, criticized American opponents of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and bolstered support for Israel amid the war, vowing to achieve “total victory” against Hamas.
In the hours before Netanyahu’s speech, thousands of protesters gathered outside the Capitol. Some wore keffiyehs — scarves representing Palestinian identity and resistance — and held Palestinian flags.
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, presided over the speech. Netanyahu was met with tumultuous applause and a standing ovation in the House chamber.
“We meet today at a crossroads of history; our world is in upheaval,” Netanyahu said in his address. “This is not a clash between civilizations; it’s a clash between barbarism and civilization.”
He compared the Oct. 7 attack on Israel to Pearl Harbor and Sept. 11, 2001, in expressing the need for a haven.
“Suddenly, at 6:29 a.m., … heaven turned into hell,” Netanyahu said of the Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis. He added that Israel has brought home 135 of the 251 Israeli hostages so far.
“The pain these families have endured is beyond words. I will not rest until all their loved ones are home,” he addressed the crowd. “As we speak, we’re actively engaged in intensive efforts to secure their release.”
In attendance were hostages freed from Gaza and the families of those still in captivity, soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces and businessman Elon Musk. Dozens of Democratic lawmakers boycotted Netanyahu’s address, choosing not to attend over humanitarian concerns.
In a statement before presiding over the speech, Cardin said he is committed to the U.S.-Israel relationship.
“The United States’ relationship with the State of Israel transcends politics and partisanship, and it transcends any one Israeli government or any one U.S. administration,” Cardin wrote in a July 24 statement. “Its foundation is cemented in the ties between our people.”
The two Maryland senators took vastly different approaches. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) is among the dozens of Senate and House Democrats who boycotted the address, in condemnation of Israel’s role in the war on Gaza and Netanyahu’s “ultra-right” political views.
Ron Halber, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, said many people are focusing on the fact that some representatives did not attend.
“I think those who purposely chose not to go because the prime minister was speaking made a mistake,” Halber said. “Overwhelmingly, [Netanyahu] was enthusiastically received — it doesn’t necessarily mean that they agree with all his policies — I think that when a foreign head of state comes to a joint session of Congress, it’s more about the symbolism than the individual.”
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), the only Palestinian-American member of Congress, attended the address, holding a sign that read “war criminal” on one side and “guilty of genocide” on the other.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer met with some of the families of hostages on July 23, during which he promised to do everything in his power to ensure that their loved ones safely return home, calling Netanyahu’s speech an opportunity to advocate for that, according to Schumer’s July 24 address to the Senate.
“Even though I disagree with many of Netanyahu’s policies, I will attend the speech because the United States’ relationship with Israel remains ironclad and transcends any prime minister or president,” Schumer said. “And we must do all we can to get our hostages home.”
‘Bring them home’
Netanyahu shared Noa Argamani’s story of being taken hostage by Hamas, held in captivity for eight months and rescued. Argamani, who attended the speech with her father, received two standing ovations.
Speaking about his commitment to bringing the remaining hostages home, Netanyahu said, “We prefer to do this diplomatically, but let me be clear, Israel will do whatever it has to to restore security to our northern border and return our people safely to their homes.”
Some attendees and family members of hostages are not satisfied with Netanyahu’s efforts to bring the hostages home.
Or Gat, an Israeli man whose mother was killed by Hamas terrorists and whose family was kidnapped on Oct. 7, said he was disappointed that Netanyahu neglected to talk about his specific strategy for bringing the hostages home in his speech, instead opting to travel to D.C. to improve his political standing.
Gat’s sister, Carmel Gat, has been held captive in Gaza for 292 days, as of July 24, Or Gat said in an interview.
He said it was 50 minutes into the nearly hour-long speech before Netanyahu mentioned the Israeli hostages: “We are all really frustrated.”
“Bring back the hostages and we can stop the war,” Or Gat said.
Activist Mari O’Leary, who attended the speech from Houston with her father, said she would like to see a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, which would expedite the return of the hostages.
“Since Oct. 7, I’ve been completely heartbroken,” O’Leary said.
O’Leary organizes weekly Run for Their Lives events in Houston to raise awareness of the hostage crisis. She said it’s more important than ever to show support for Israel now.
“I was adopted and grew up Jewish,” O’Leary said. “I visited Israel for the first time in November of 2022 … and I went back in April when Iran attacked. Every time I go, I feel a deeper connection.”
Halber said he believes a hostage deal will come sooner rather than later.
“We’re at the endgame of a cease-fire right now,” Halber said, citing external pressure from the U.S. to agree to a deal and the approaching end of Israel’s Knesset summer session. “I think we’re more likely to see a deal in the next week or two.”
“The sooner the war’s over, the better, but the objectives of the war have to be done,” said Rabbi Chaim Cohen of Chabad of Loudoun County, who attended the address.
‘Give us the tools faster and we’ll finish the job’
In response to the protesters accusing him of genocide, Netanyahu cited John Spencer, the head of urban warfare studies at West Point, who has studied “every major urban conflict in history,” to maintain that his military campaign has attempted to minimize harm in Gaza.
“Israel, [Spencer] said, has implemented more precautions to prevent civilian harm than any military in history and beyond what international law requires,” Netanyahu said.
Tina Irrera, originally from Boston, was among the thousands protesting Netanyahu’s visit to D.C. outside the Capitol on the morning of his speech.
“This is a man who has ICC arrest warrants pending for him,” Irrera said of Netanyahu. “In any other country, he would be arrested and detained for crimes against humanity, but in the United States, he’s welcomed because all of our politicians are bought out by a lobbying group that represents the best interests of Israel.”
In his speech, Netanyahu took a bipartisan approach, thanking President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump for their support of Israel. He appeared to hint at the slowing down of U.S. military aid to Israel: “Give us the tools faster and we’ll finish the job faster.”
Netanyahu said in continuing Israel’s war efforts, he is also benefiting the U.S. and democracy as a whole.
“The victory is in sight,” Netanyahu told the crowd.
