Israeli PM Netanyahu's US Congress Address Sparks Protests in Washington

Washington, DC, July 25 :
Over five thousand demonstrators gathered on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to address a joint session of Congress. Protesters waved Palestinian flags and shouted for an end to U.S. arms sales to Israel. In the midst of Israel's continuing battle with Hamas in Gaza, the prime minister made a plea to American leaders to offer bipartisan support to the war-torn nation during his address.

One group of protesters distributed an effigy of the prime minister in handcuffs, while another set fire to the American flag in an effort to block Netanyahu's possible routes to the Capitol. Netanyahu accused Iran of supporting American anti-Israel demonstrations in his speech to Congress. Following this, Netanyahu referred to the demonstrators as "Iran useful idiots." Who we oppose, you oppose as well. "Our fight is your fight, and our victory will be your victory," Netanyahu emphasized Israel's strategic importance in opposing Iran. Netanyahu avoided directly addressing the Biden administration's top priority—a ceasefire—and instead avoided discussing the current condition of the agreement that Israel and Hamas have been negotiating for weeks.

Still, he did mention that hostages may be restored and the war halted if Hamas renounced its weapons. Referring to the terror attack on October by Hamas, the Israeli prime minister characterized it as "a day that will forever live in infamy, comparing it to the attacks on Pearl Harbour and 911." In an endeavor to liberate hostages held by Hamas, the Israeli prime minister lauded US President Joe Biden.
"I think Biden and I have known each other for 40 years," he added, adding, "I want to thank him for half a century of friendship with Israel."
On Thursday, the White House is supposed to play host to a meeting between Biden and Netanyahu.

When asked about Trump's support for Israel, Netanyahu was not bashful in praising the former US president and Republican contender. Additionally, Netanyahu expressed his happiness that the former president was unharmed after the shooting in Pennsylvania. In a show of disapproval over Netanyahu's stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, over 30 lawmakers skipped his speech. Elon Musk was a special guest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his speech in Washington.