Hamas Decries Netanyahu’s US Congress Address as 'Deceptive'
In a contentious speech to the US Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to persist in the war on Gaza, declaring, "we will win," yet he failed to outline specific strategies for concluding the conflict or securing the release of hostages.
Hamas has vehemently criticized Netanyahu's address, accusing him of disseminating falsehoods regarding efforts to bring captives back to Israel. The Palestinian group condemned his remarks as "pure lies," contending that the speech was designed to mislead both Israeli and international audiences.
A Hamas spokesperson characterized Netanyahu's congressional appearance as an attempt to "polish his image" and lambasted the international community for not holding him accountable, as reported by Al Jazeera.
“It would have been more appropriate to arrest Netanyahu as a war criminal and hand him over to the International Criminal Court rather than allowing him a platform before the US Congress,” the statement asserted. Notably, the ICC has previously sought an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on charges of war crimes in Gaza.
The group further accused Israel of waging a "brutal war aimed at exterminating our Palestinian people in Gaza," arguing that international laws, norms, and humanitarian treaties intended to protect civilians were being egregiously violated.
Netanyahu's congressional speech was underscored by his commitment to achieving "total victory" against Hamas and his sharp criticism of American detractors of the Gaza war, whom he labeled as "idiots."
The address was boycotted by dozens of Democratic lawmakers, and thousands of protesters assembled outside the Capitol to denounce the ongoing conflict and the humanitarian disaster it has precipitated.
Hamas also accused Netanyahu of obstructing efforts to end the conflict and broker a deal for the release of hostages, despite mediation attempts by Egypt and Qatar. "He [Netanyahu] is the one who thwarted all efforts to end the war and reach a deal to release hostages," the statement added.
The Biden administration had reportedly hoped that Netanyahu's visit would advance negotiations to cease hostilities, but the speech appears to have heightened tensions both domestically and on the global stage.