Netanyahu in the USA:

Netanyahu: “Hamas is stealing food”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

(Bild: AFP/APA/Getty Images via AFP/GETTY IMAGES/Kent Nishimura)

In a speech in the US Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected his own responsibility for the plight of the Gaza Strip (see video above). The politician also lashed out at his critics.

The accusations of the International Criminal Court, for example, are dangerous lies. In May, the chief prosecutor applied for arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as well as three Hamas leaders. They had allegedly committed crimes against humanity. The court must first decide on the applications.

In any case, the plight in the Gaza Strip is not the fault of his country. "If there are Palestinians (...) who are not getting enough food, it is not because Israel is blocking them." It is because Hamas is stealing it. On the contrary, Israel had actually done a lot to get Palestinian civilians out of the danger zone and protect them. "The Israeli army has dropped millions of leaflets, sent millions of text messages and made hundreds of thousands of phone calls."

Netanyahu during his speech in the US Congress

(Bild: AFP/APA/Getty Images via AFP/GETTY IMAGES/Kent Nishimura)

However, Hamas is putting civilians in danger. It had fired rockets from schools, hospitals and mosques, for example. "For Israel, every civilian death is a tragedy, for Hamas it is a strategy." The war would only end with a victory over Hamas. After that, there should be a "demilitarized, de-radicalized Gaza". The Gaza Strip should not be recolonized, but must have Israeli security control.

Democrats boycotted speech
Netanyahu is currently in Washington, where he gave a speech in the US Congress on Wednesday evening. The government there is Israel's most important ally and is pushing to increase humanitarian aid. One prominent listener to the speech was tech billionaire Elon Musk, who said he had been personally invited by Netanyahu. Some members of parliament, however, stayed away from the speech. It was "immoral and cruel" towards the many victims of war to offer Netanyahu a stage, said one Democratic MP.

The demonstrators are on the side of rapists and murderers.

Israels Regierungschef Benjamin Netanyahu

Netanyahu described the anti-Israel demonstrators as "useful idiots of Iran." "They are on the side of rapists and murderers." Many of them would not even know what they were talking about. Hours earlier, numerous demonstrators had already gathered around the parliament building. They became particularly popular around midday (local time).

Netanyahu with US MPs

(Bild: AFP/Roberto Schmidt)

At a pro-Palestinian rally, speakers called on the government under Joe Biden to completely stop military aid to the war-torn country. They spoke of a "genocide" in the Gaza Strip and accused the top members of the US parliament of participating in it.

At another location in the parliamentary district, Jewish demonstrators gathered with Israeli flags. However, they were also protesting against Netanyahu. He did not represent the Israeli people, they said. The police had already arrested several protesters who were in an office building on Tuesday. The Capitol had been cordoned off with high fences and security measures had been increased.

Meeting with Biden and Trump
Netanyahu will meet with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in the USA on Thursday. On Friday, presidential candidate Donald Trump plans to receive the Israeli head of government at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.