Israeli officials slam Netanyahu's Congress speech as 'disgraceful'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
25 Jul 2024 00:43
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Voices within the Israeli occupation entity lambast Netanyahu for making no mention of a prisoner exchange deal to return the captives held in Gaza during his speech before the US Congress.

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Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid speaks in support of Israeli family members held captive in Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, during a rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, on Sunday, April 7, 2024. (AP)

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid slammed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech before the US Congress as "disgraceful".

Lapid criticized Netanyahu, particularly for not taking any responsibility for his failure regarding the October 7 events and for failing to accept a deal with Hamas that would retrieve the Israeli captives held by the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza.

"Disgraceful! An hour of talking without saying a single sentence: 'There will be a hostage deal,'" he posted on his account on the X platform.

In a separate post, the opposition figure said, "We heard Netanyahu speak about October 7 as if he has no idea who was the Prime Minister and who was responsible for the disaster."

Lapid pointed out that, during his speech before Congress, Netanyahu had the opportunity to announce that he accepts a deal that would bring back the captives in Gaza "before they all die in the tunnels."

"He did not do that," Lapid added.

Netanyahu pleaded with the US on Wednesday during his speech at Congress to fast-track military aid to "Israel" to end the war in Gaza.

He claimed that he was actively working to free the captives in Gaza, expressing optimism that such efforts would be successful, completely turning a blind eye to the fact that he had obstructed all attempts to reach a deal since before the talks started.

The Israeli premier voiced confidence in the ongoing efforts to secure the release of Israeli captives held in Gaza with Noa Argamani, one of the released captives, present at the event.

According to CNN, Congress police arrested at least five protesters at the US Capitol during Netanyahu's speech, while an Israeli media platform reported that some family members of Israeli captives held in Gaza, wearing shirts calling for an immediate prisoner exchange deal, were detained at Congress entrance.

Netanyahu poses an existential threat to 'Israel'

Also commenting on Netanyahu's speech, former Israeli Chief of Staff Dan Halutz considered that the prime minister "poses an existential threat to Israel," as cited by Israeli media.

On his part, former director general of the Israeli Security Ministry, Udi Adam, questioned, "How can a mother be left begging the government to release her sons held captive in Gaza?"

In parallel with Netanyahu's speech before Congress, angry Israeli settlers displayed a Statue of Liberty in a river of blood outside the US embassy in Tel Aviv.

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An embodiment of the Statue of Liberty in a sea of blood in front of the American Embassy in Tel Aviv
In conjunction with war criminal Netanyahu's speech in Congress#Israel #Netanyahu #GazaGenocide #URGENTE #Budget2024 #Congress pic.twitter.com/fnoO1sFpYY
— احداث عالمية (@AhdatAlmyt) July 24, 2024

Captives are killed while Netanyahu celebrates in Miami

In the same vein, the Israeli advocacy organization the "Hostages and Missing Families Forum" stated, "45 minutes of speech and applause won't erase the one sad fact: the words 'Deal Now!' were absent from the prime minister's address."

Israeli media reported that the mother of an Israeli captive held in Gaza attacked Netanyahu, accusing the prime minister of blocking a prisoner exchange deal for personal reasons that serve his own interests.

She pointed out that Netanyahu has failed to achieve the declared goals of the war that began over nine months ago, accusing the Israeli premier and his coalition of prioritizing their positions over the lives of the captives held in Gaza.

The captive's mother said that, while the Israeli captives were dying, Netanyahu, who had caused the greatest disaster in "Israel's" history, celebrated his son's birthday with his wife in Miami.

On Wednesday, Netanyahu made headlines in Haaretz, which held him accountable for the fate of the Israeli captives held in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli newspaper stated that he would be responsible for their death if he did not finalize an agreement with the Palestinian Resistance.

Haaretz argued that Netanyahu is "knowingly distorting the truth" when he claims that "the prisoners are suffering but not dying."

The newspaper also proclaimed that the "bitter truth" was that the captives "are suffering and some of them are dying, and if no agreement is reached, they will continue to suffer and die."