Due to Israel's handling of the ongoingIsraeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu's visit to the U.S. was met with both political backlash and support. His speech was boycotted by 92 U.S. lawmakers (89 Democrats, 2 Independents, and 1 Republican), citing various political criticisms. The address was also met by thousands ofPro-Palestinian protestors. Conversely, many Democratic and Republican politicians showcased their support for Netanyahu and Israel during the address.[1][2]
In response to news of the pending arrest warrant, many U.S. politicians, both Republican and Democratic, reiterated their support of Netanyahu and Israel. On May 31,Mike Johnson,Chuck Schumer,Mitch McConnell, andHakeem Jeffries all formally invited Netanyahu to speak before Congress.[6]
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a joint session of Congress with House SpeakerMike Johnson and SenatorBen Cardin.
Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Congress on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. His speech lasted about 52 minutes.[7]
Before the address, Netanyahu exchanged gifts with RepublicanHouse SpeakerMike Johnson, a customary tradition.[8] Johnson gifted Netanyahu a collection of documents and letters, including a letter written byBenzion Netanyahu, Netanyahu's father, to U.S. PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower; as well as a note-card from U.S. PresidentGerald Ford. Netanyahu gifted Johnson a shrapnel sculpture of a dove flying over the state of Israel.[8]
During his speech, Netanyahu vowed to press forward with the war until reaching "total victory", but stated he would agree to a cease-fire if specific conditions were met. Netanyahu portrayed the war as “clash between barbarism and civilization”, attacked anti-war protesters as “Iran'suseful idiots”[9] and likened the slogan "Gays for Gaza" to "Chickens for KFC."[10] He also praised U.S. PresidentJoe Biden.[8]
Netanyahu received a nearly eight-minutestanding ovation upon arrival, and nearly 50 standing ovations during the speech.[11][12]
Claims
During the speech, Netanyahu made several false or misleading statements.[13][14] Netanyahu said "If there are Palestinians in Gaza who aren't getting enough food, it's not because Israel is blocking it. It's because Hamas is stealing it".[14] Additionally, Netanyahu claimed that during theRafah invasion, there were "practically no civilian deaths" during several of the IDF's operations, that the war had "one of the lowest ratios of combatants to non-combatant casualties in the history of urban warfare," and "Iran is funding and promoting anti-Israel protests in America." Furthermore, Netanyahu said the ICC's allegation that Israel isstarving people of Gaza is "utter, complete nonsense" and a "fabrication." These claims have been disputed by the media, UN, experts and various NGO's working on the ground.[15][16]
Democratic Representative and former House SpeakerNancy Pelosi, who did not attend the speech, attacked Netanyahu's speech, calling it "by far the worst presentation of any foreign dignitary invited and honored with the privilege of addressing the Congress of the United States." Pelosi reiterated her support of Israel, while criticizing Netanyahu and calling for a ceasefire.[18]
Following the speech, Democratic RepresentativesAdam Schiff andJimmy Gomez, who both attended, called on Netanyahu to resign.[17]
Republican reception to the speech was generally positive.[17] However,The American Conservative was critical, with Bradley Devin writing "While Americans have long sought a way out of the Middle East, Netanyahu seems keen on keeping America in."[19]
Responding to the concerns raised by Netanyahu regarding the assassination attempt by Iran on former President and 2024 Republican presidential candidateDonald Trump, Trump published a post alongside a video clip on his social media platform,Truth Social, invoking the possibility of his assassination and calling for the annihilation of Iran in such an event. "If they do 'assassinate President Trump,' which is always a possibility, I hope that America obliterates Iran, wipes it off the face of the Earth. If that does not happen, American Leaders will be considered 'gutless' cowards!" he wrote, echoing rhetoric reminiscent of his most incendiary statements while in office.[20][21]
Congressional boycotts, protests, and absences
Boycotts
Ahead of Netanyahu's address, many Congressional Representatives and several Senators announced their intentions to boycott the address.[22][23]
Eventually 92 lawmakers boycotted the address as a form of protest. The list includes 89 Democrats, 2 Independents (Angus King andBernie Sanders), and 1 Republican (Thomas Massie).
List of politicians who boycotted Netanyahu's Congressional address
CongresswomanRashida Tlaib, who is Palestinian-American, attended the address. For several minutes during Netanyahu's address, Tlaib held up a sign that read "WAR CRIMINAL" on one side and "GUILTY OF GENOCIDE" on the other.[48]
Absences not intended to be a protest
Democratic US Vice PresidentKamala Harris (theex-officio President of the United States Senate) and Republican SenatorJD Vance did not attend the address. However, their absences were not explicit political protests, with both citing prior engagements. Harris stated her absence was due to hercampaigning for President in the 2024 election, and she privately met with Netanyahu later. Vance similarly cited his campaign duties asDonald Trump's running mate in election. Both reiterated their support for Israel in spite of their absence.[8]
SenatorRobert Menendez was convicted of bribery the week before the address and announced his resignation from the Senate the day before the address. Although officially still a Senator until the resignation became effective a month later, Menendez had not been in Washington between the conviction and the address.[49]
CongressmembersEmanuel Cleaver,Dwight Evans,[50] andBill Pascrell were unable to attend due to medical reasons, with Cleaver having tested positive forCOVID-19.[24] Pascrell died less than a month after the address. SenatorTim Kaine stated that he was unable to attend, due to a previously scheduled commitment inVirginia.[22]
Other meetings
White House meeting between Vice President Harris and Prime Minister Netanyahu on July 25
Despite Harris' absence at the congressional address, Netanyahu held a private meeting with her during his visit. During the visit, Harris reportedly pressed Netanyahu to reach a cease-fire.[51]
Netanyahu also announced plans to meet with then-former U.S. PresidentDonald Trump during his visit; Trump was also the Republican nominee in the2024 presidential election.[52]
Prior to the speech, groups of protesters demonstrated near the Capitol before police pushed them away using pepper spray after they reported that sections of the crowd grew violent while failing to obey police orders. Many of the protesters turned away from the Capitol would gather in front ofWashington Union Station to demonstrate. Six intersections leading to the Capitol were blocked by protestors attempting to block Netanyahu's route.[57] At least four protesters were apprehended by police, with one officer taking and throwing aside a Palestinian flag held by a woman.[58] TheUnited States Capitol Police deployed pepper spray during one instance of the crowd "starting to become violent" and refusing to obey police commands, two protesters were treated for pepper spray but no other injuries were reported.[59][60] Several American flags were replaced with Palestinian flags at Union Station Plaza and in Columbus Circle, and at least one American flag was burned.[61] Protesters heavily defaced theFreedom Bell outside of Union Station with spray paint and markers, writing messages including "Endcolonialism", "Hind's Hall", "Fuck America", "Welcome to theIntifada", "Anarchy 2025", and "This is Biden's legacy" (with "this" referring to theGaza genocide).[62]
Protesters burned an effigy of Netanyahu, while apapier-mâché effigy ofUnited States PresidentJoe Biden was presented to the group of demonstrators bearing devil horns and bloodied hands, representing his policies said to have enabled and made possible Netanyahu's military actions and war crimes towardsthe Gaza Strip. Other demonstrators climbed onto theColumbus Fountain near Union Station and used spray paint to write graffiti onto the monument. Writings included large lettering in red spray paint stating "Hamas is coming" and green paint stating "Free Gaza".[58] Other messages written on the sculpture included "Long live the resistance", "All Zionists are bastards", "Fuck Fascism!" and "Free Palestine", as well as severalinverted red triangles representing the Palestinian flag.[62] Demonstrators also spray painted several other statues in Columbus Circle with the words "Free Gaza".[61]
Protesters at Washington Union Station removed 3American Flags and replaced them withPalestinian flags during the address.[63]Other incidents involved the burning ofAmerican Flags, and the use ofHamas slogans, such as “Qassam, Qassam, make us proud,” cheering theAl-Qassam Brigades, which isHamas's military wing.[64]Kamala Harris condemned the "despicable acts and dangerous hate-fueled rhetoric" by demonstrators who rioted outside the capitol expressing support for Hamas and burning American flags.[65]
About 100 protesters affiliated withUnXeptable, a pro-Israel but anti-Netanyahu group, also rallied at a park near the Washington Union Station. In contrast with all the other protests, the protestors in this protest wavedIsraeli flags.Rabbi Jill Jacobs was one of the speakers who addressed that rally.[55]
A total of 23 protestors were arrested on the day of Netanyahu's address to Congress: Fifteen by theDC Metro Police and eight by theUS Parks Police.[55]
Watergate Hotel
A group calledPalestinian Youth Movement released a video to social media showing hundreds ofmaggots andcrickets crawling on a conference table at theWatergate Hotel, where Netanyahu was staying. In addition to the maggots seen on the video, the group claimed that the bugs were released in multiple floors. In the video, fire alarms can be heard in the background which the group claimed were set off to ensure that Netanyahu had "no peace".[66]
In the Capitol
United States Capitol Police arrested six guests of Benjamin Netanyahu who attended the speech in the House Gallery and removed outer layers of clothing to expose t-shirts with the message "SEAL THE DEAL NOW" (with "the deal" meaning a ceasefire and hostage exchange deal in theGaza War). The six were charged with disrupting congress.[58] The arrested guests were family members of individuals who werebeing held hostage in Gaza by Hamas, and they were arrested for violating a statute making it a crime to "parade, demonstrate, or picket within any of the Capitol Buildings." Earlier in the day,Speaker of the United States House of RepresentativesMike Johnson warned that anyone who is perceived as disrupting Netanyahu's speech will be arrested.[67]
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