Alwaght- On Wednesday, while thousands of Americans were protesting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the US, he delivered a speech to the Congress. His address was full of clear misleadings, lies, and contradictions. This report sheds light on the 6 of his gross false claims of Netanyahu in his congress speech. His lies not only for the people of Palestine, but also for the Americans themselves and other countries are destructive. If we genuinely believe in the international law-based order, the Israeli PM should be tried and held accountable for all the human rights and international law standards violations.
1. Netanyahu himself a threat
Netanyahu claimed that he is bombing Gaza to repel the threat. This comes while the International Court of Justice (ICJ) earlier accused Netanyahu of genocide, the International Criminal Court (ICC) of war crimes, and the United Nations of "murdering" Palestinian civilians. Even the former chiefs of staff of the Israeli military and Mossad directors have described Netanyahu as an existential threat to Israel in a letter to the Israeli Knesset and considered his actions criminal. In fact, according to the Israelis themselves, the biggest threat to Israel is Benjamin Netanyahu, and the threats against Israel will not be eliminated by bombing Gaza.
2. Claims of efforts for ceasefire
In his speech, Netanyahu claimed that those who are protesting for a ceasefire in the Gaza war are "supporting Hamas" and acting with "Iran's funds". Of course, this claim is baseless. First of all, the Israelis themselves are looking for a complete ceasefire and the release of all their prisoners, so can it be said that the Israelis are supporters of Hamas or agents of Iran? So, on what basis can Netanyahu condemn the Israeli protesters demanding a truce for activities funded by Iran? There is no evidence to support the claim that the people protesting against Netanyahu, either in Israel or on the stairs of the US Congress, are funded by Iran. This is just a repeated and unsubstantiated lie by Netanyahu.
3. Lie of commitment to humanitarian principles
The Israeli regime deliberately bombards safe zones in Gaza. As the New York Times and ABC news have documented these bombings in more than 200 reports. These bombings contradict any claims of Israel's adherence to humanitarian principles. Claiming to adhere to the principles of human rights in the Gaza war is a shameless attempt by Netanyahu to avoid accountability.
4. Criticism of Israel as anti-Semitism
The Israeli PM equates criticism and protest against Israeli crimes with anti-Semitism, which is an obvious lie. Criticizing the policies of a regime is not the same as hating ordinary people. Anti-Semitism is hatred of Jews around the world, not criticism of the actions of the Israeli regime. Even the Jews themselves in the US are criticizing, opposing, and protesting against Israel. Therfore, protesting and opposing Israel does not mean anti-Semitism.
5. Imposed famine and aid to Gaza
Netanyahu accused the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Karim Ahmad Khan of anti-Semitism, because he prosecutor said that Israel "starves the people of Gaza." Netanyahu claims that Hamas steals aid, but this claim is also false. It should be kept in mind that even the UN has confirmed the famine conditions in Gaza due to Israeli-imposed siege. The UN says that Israel's "deliberate and targeted famine campaign" against the Palestinian people is a "form of genocidal violence and has led to famine throughout Gaza." Additionally, in February, the ICJ condemned Israel's food embargo against Gaza and ordered the Netanyahu regime to cooperate in ensuring that aid reaches Gaza, but Tel Aviv has done nothing about aid delivery to Gaza. On the other hand, the American government and non-governmental organizations have reported that the Israeli settlers, with the information of the Israeli army, prevent aid from reaching people of Gaza.
6. Lie of protecting journalists and freedom of journalism
Netanyahu’s claim that Israeli army more than any other army in history has taken measures to protect the civilians and journalists contradicts his actions on the ground. For example, the Israeli regime bombed safe zones over 200 times. It also bombed places where journalists settle and work, so far killing over 108 journalists and media staff in Gaza.
