Outrage in Congress: Democrats boycott Netanyahu’s address over Gaza genocide

When Benjamin Netanyahu arrives on Capitol Hill to address a joint meeting of US Congress, he will face empty rows of seats left by Democratic representatives who demand an end to the Biden administration’s support for Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza.

The July 24 event, which is also expected to draw crowds of angry protesters in Washington, will be boycotted by approximately 80 House Democrats and at least six Democratic senators, CNN reported citing sources and public statements.

This has prompted Speaker Mike Johnson to threaten that he will have anyone who causes a disturbance on the floor or in the gallery above arrested.

Among those who will boycott Netanyahu’s address is Democratic congressman Jamaal Bowman, who said he was outraged as "a genocidal war criminal will address Congress." 

Netanyahu’s joint address, he said, is directly undermining the will of the overwhelming majority of Americans who want peace.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democrat of New York, said she would not be attending the speech for the simple reason that she thinks Netanyahu is a “war criminal.”

So does Democrat of Michigan and the sole Palestinian American in Congress Representative Rashida Tlaib. She said, “It is utterly disgraceful that leaders from both parties have invited him to address Congress.”

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Tlaib said Netanyahu “should be arrested and sent to the International Criminal Court.”

“It is a sad day for our democracy when my colleagues will smile for a photo op with a man who is actively committing genocide.”

Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington was also planning to stay away.

Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, another progressive Democrat, said she would not attend the event.

Representative Maxwell Alejandro Frost, Democrat of Florida, who also said he would skip the speech said, “I detest what Netanyahu is doing, and I detest his leadership.”

Meanwhile, a number of Democratic lawmakers are planning to participate in a series of counter-programming events on Wednesday.

The event, “Peace is Possible: An Alternative Vision for Israel and Palestine,” will feature Israeli and Palestinian peace leaders and is hosted by groups like the Center for American Progress and Middle East Democracy Center.

Netanyahu landed in Washington on Monday and will meet Biden on Thursday.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who has secured the support of a majority of Democratic delegates to become the party's nominee for president after Biden announced he was quitting the race for a second term, will hold separate talks with Netanyahu.

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After Biden dropped out of the presidential race, many hope that Harris will have an opportunity to change course on Washington’s support for Tel Aviv’s war on Gaza.

But the vice president won’t be attending Netanyahu’s address, as she has pre-scheduled campaign travel in Indianapolis on Wednesday, said her plans “should not be interpreted as a change in her position with regard to Israel,” according to a Harris aide.

The Biden-Harris administration has sent tens of thousands of weapons to Israel since the regime launched its campaign of death and destruction in Gaza in early October.

The regime's war machine has now raged for 291 days and so has killed more than 39,000 Palestinians, with a devastating impact on children in particular, according to the Gaza health officials.

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