More than 200 anonymous officials from 122 Democratic and Republican congressional offices signed a letter this week calling on Congress to protest or boycott Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech next week at the Capitol, citing concerns about the ongoing war in Gaza.
O Letterorganized by Congressional Progressive Staff Associationand signed by 230 House and Senate officials, said that speaking out against Netanyahu’s joint speech to Congress on July 24 was a “matter of morality” and not politics.
“Citizens, students and legislators from across the country and the world have spoken out against Mr. Netanyahu’s actions in his War on Gaza,” the letter says. “Israelis have been protesting in the streets for months, denouncing his failure to negotiate a ceasefire and the release of hostages. We hope you will join your fellow members of Congress in protesting his speech or refusing to attend it.”
Some officials, mostly progressives, have repeatedly called for a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, including at a demonstration in November and another in May.
Several Democratic lawmakers have already announced they will protest Netanyahu’s speech, which followed an invitation in May from top Democratic and Republican leaders in both chambers.
It is likely that most, if not all, of the roughly 100 members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus in the House and Senate will boycott or otherwise protest the speech.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), one of the most vocal critics of Israel’s war in Gaza, earlier this month criticized leaders for inviting Netanyahu while more than 38,000 Palestinians died in the war that began on October 7, when Hamas invaded southern Israel and killed around 1,200 people and took around 250 hostages. Sanders reiterated his promise not to participate in last month’s meeting, calling the Israeli leader a “war criminal.”
Netanyahu will arrive in Washington next week to address Congress and will meet with President Biden at the White House for his first visit since 2020.
The joint speech to Congress is the prime minister’s first since 2015, when 58 lawmakers boycotted him due to concerns about his opposition to the Iran nuclear deal, being negotiated at the time between Tehran and then-President Obama.
Israel has faced widespread criticism for its nearly 10-month war in Gaza, where Palestinians struggle to access basic needs such as food and water and are not considered safe by the United Nations anywhere in the territory from airstrikes and other fighting.
The Biden administration is working on an agreement to reach a ceasefire and release the remaining approximately 120 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, and although recent statements indicate that progress is being made, an agreement has not yet been announced.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
