TEHRAN- The Israeli prime minister addressed a joint session of the US Congress on Wednesday amid his army’s genocidal war on Gaza that has claimed the lives of more than 39,000 Palestinians over the past nine months.

By weaving a web of deceit and playing the innocent, Benjamin Netanyahu tried to justify the brutal onslaught that was launched on October 7. 
Receiving massive applause, he also resorted to smear campaigns and blame games in an attempt to elevate his domestic position and drum up support for the regime’s brutal war on the besieged Palestinian territory. 

Anti-Iran propaganda 

At the beginning of his speech, Netanyahu, known as Bibi, tried to demonize Iran. 

“In the Middle East, Iran’s axis of terror confronts America, Israel and our Arab friends. This is not a clash of civilizations. It’s a clash between barbarism and civilization. It’s a clash between those who glorify death and those who sanctify life,” Netanyahu, said in Congress with forked tongue. 

Netanyahu who is called “Crime Minister” by Israeli protesters, is in fact accusing Iran and regional resistance groups including Hamas of condoning terror and barbarism.

During his speech to the UN General Assembly in September 2023, Netanyahu threatened to nuke Iran. The Israeli regime has also carried out acts of sabotage in Iran and assassinated Iranian nuclear scientists.  

Undoubtedly, the international community’s inaction in the face of such heinous acts and threats has emboldened the Israeli prime minister to make such baseless accusations in Congress.  

With regards to Israeli crimes in Gaza, more than 16,000 Palestinian children are among those who have been slaughtered by the Israeli army since October 7, that’s according to Gaza's government media office.  Undoubtedly, nothing is more synonymous with barbarism than killing innocent and defenseless kids.

Israeli heritage minister Amihai Eliyahu also called for dropping a nuclear bomb in the besieged territory in November last year.  What is more outrageous than threatening to target civilians with nuclear weapons in a tiny territory?

Bending the truth

As Bibi kept lying through his teeth, he accused Hamas fighters of “butchering” Israelis and foreigners as well as “raping women, beheading men and burning babies alive” during Operation Al-Aqsa Storm. 

But, the premier failed to provide any evidence to back up his claims. 

More than 1,100 people were killed and about 250 others were taken captive when Hamas conducted the surprise military operation in southern Israel on October 7.

Israel stands accused of killing some of the captives in confrontations with Hamas during the operations. A significant number of captives who have been held in Gaza have also fallen victim to Israeli strikes on the territory. 

Netanyahu’s allegations against the Palestinian resistance are only aimed at diverting attention away from his army’s genocidal campaign in Gaza and justifying the onslaught. 

Transparent lies

Netanyahu flatly rejected the massacres of Palestinians in Rafah since the Israeli army carried out a ground incursion into Gaza’s southernmost city in early May. 

Israel has perpetrated several massacres in Rafah. At least 45 Palestinians including 23 women and children were killed in Israeli airstrikes on a camp housing displaced people near the city on May 27. 

Smearing ICC

Netanyahu did not miss the chance in Congress to launch propaganda against the International Criminal Court (ICC) which has requested arrest warrants against him and his war minister Yoav Gallant for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip. 

He lashed out at the ICC for accusing Israel of “deliberately targeting civilians”.

The Israeli premier said, “The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has shamefully accused Israel of deliberately starving the people of Gaza. This is utter complete nonsense. It’s a complete fabrication. Israel has enabled more than 40,000 aid trucks to enter Gaza. That’s half a million tons of food, and that’s more than 3,000 calories for every man, woman and child in Gaza.”

Israel has committed massacres even in the so-called “safe zones” that it has ordered Palestinian civilians to evacuate to.

In a single case, the Israel army killed at least 274 Palestinians in a raid on the Nuseirat refugee camp on June 8 which sparked global outrage. 

Israel has also largely restricted the entry of food, water, medicines and other essentials to Gaza. Last month, UN experts declared that famine had spread throughout Gaza.

Netanyahu’s lifeline  

The premier has rejected growing calls to stop the Israeli war machine in Gaza. 

Hamas has stressed in numerous occasions that it would agree to a ceasefire if Israel ends the war and withdraws its troops from Gaza.

But while addressing Congress, Netanyahu tried to blame Hamas.

“The war in Gaza could end tomorrow if Hamas surrenders, disarms and returns all the hostages. But if they don’t, Israel will fight until we destroy Hamas’ military capabilities and its rule in Gaza and bring all our hostages home. That’s what total victory means, and we will settle for nothing less,” he said. 

Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed to continue the Gaza war until “destroying” the Hamas resistance group. 

But the Israeli military’s intelligence and the US intelligence community have concluded that the Netanyahu regime will remain unable to eliminate Hamas. 

The Israeli military spokesman also warned last month that Bibi’s dream will remain elusive.  

“This business of destroying Hamas, making Hamas disappear — it’s simply throwing sand in the eyes of the public,” Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said. 

He added, “Hamas is an idea, Hamas is a party. It’s rooted in the hearts of the people — anyone who thinks we can eliminate Hamas is wrong.” 

The continuation of the Gaza war provides Netanyahu with a lifeline. This is because as soon as the onslaught ends, he will have to be held accountable for his regime’s failure to prevent the Hamas’ October 7 military operation. 

That is why when he talks about a truce in Gaza he is just blowing smoke to keep himself in power. 

As bold as brass

Since its establishment in 1948, Israel began to displace Palestinians. It forced them to leave their homes. The regime has occupied Palestinian lands and expanded its settlements, which are illegal under international law. 

But Netanyahu claims ownership of Palestinian properties. 

“They call Israel a colonialist state…. For nearly four thousand years, the land of Israel has been the homeland of the Jewish people. It’s always been our home; it will always be our home,” he said in Congress. 
If Israel allowed a referendum in the occupied territories, people in Palestine including, Muslims, Christians and Jews would disgrace the Zionist entity. 

Israel does not represent Jews. It is only a bogus and apartheid regime whose existence depends on bloodshed. 

Antisemitism allegations 

Netanyahu also vented his anger at protests in the United States against Israel’s war of genocide. 

He accused protesters of promoting antisemitism. But protesters say his claims are wrong. 

US cities have been the scene of demonstrations since the early days of the Gaza war. 

Protests against Israel’s war on Gaza erupted on college campuses across the US and around the world in April. 

Students have called on their universities to disclose their investments and withdraw any funds from weapons manufacturers and firms involved with the Israeli military.

Many of the protesters who are Jews have flatly rejected accusations of antisemitism. 

Netanyahu has also accused Iran of funding protests in the US without providing any evidence.

Experts believe such demonstrations in the US have thrown a spotlight on the generational divide about Israel.