Image Credits - Al Jazeera
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech before the U.S. Congress on Wednesday was met with applause from American lawmakers, despite significant controversy surrounding his statements and the current situation in Gaza. Netanyahu’s speech, which was delivered amid large-scale protests outside the Capitol, has faced sharp criticism for its perceived inaccuracies and controversial claims.
In his address, Netanyahu asserted that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has maintained one of the lowest ratios of civilian to combatant casualties in the history of urban warfare. This claim has been widely disputed. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that the confirmed death toll in Gaza is approaching 40,000, with a large number of casualties being women and children. These figures are based on data verified by the U.N., which has been critical of Israel’s handling of civilian casualties and the conditions in purported “safe zones.”
Netanyahu also contended that Israel has implemented more precautions to avoid civilian harm than any other military force, a statement at odds with criticism from the U.S. and the U.N. The Biden administration and international bodies have urged Israel to improve humanitarian conditions and minimize civilian casualties, citing severe deficiencies in resources and protection at designated safe zones.
In his speech, Netanyahu placed blame on Hamas for shortages of food and other essentials in Gaza, a claim contradicted by evidence of Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid. Reports from organizations like the World Food Programme and incidents such as the April 1 airstrike on an aid convoy have highlighted severe impediments to delivering necessary assistance. The U.N. has declared that famine conditions now exist across Gaza, attributing this to what they describe as an intentional starvation campaign by Israel.
Netanyahu’s assertions about civilian casualties in Rafah were also met with skepticism. He claimed that such casualties were “practically none,” despite evidence of deadly strikes that have targeted displaced Palestinians and resulted in numerous deaths and injuries. Human rights groups and U.N. experts have denounced these attacks as breaches of international law.
The speech has intensified existing tensions and highlighted ongoing disputes over Israel’s military actions and their impact on the civilian population in Gaza.