By : JD
Jordan Daily – Palestinian leaders sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, calling it full of lies and indicative of his unwillingness to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza.
Hamas issued a statement responding to Netanyahu’s address, arguing that he should be arrested as a war criminal and handed over to the International Criminal Court rather than given a platform to “polish his image” before the world. The statement accused Netanyahu of “playing on emotions, distorting facts, and promoting false narratives about October 7.”
Hamas emphasized that Netanyahu’s speech reflected the depth of his military, security, and international crises, claiming he was publicly attempting to cover up the defeats his army has suffered in Gaza. The group dismissed his claims of intensive efforts to release hostages as mere lies and misdirection for Israeli, American, and global audiences, accusing him of undermining all efforts to end the war and secure a deal.
Hamas also called Netanyahu’s visions for the future of Gaza “delusions and fantasies,” reaffirming that the Palestinian people alone have the right to determine their fate and leadership, and have chosen to support resistance.
Ali Abu Shaheen, a member of the political bureau of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, said Netanyahu’s speech was aimed at garnering sympathy from Washington after losing international support. In a statement posted on the movement’s Telegram account, Abu Shaheen accused Netanyahu of seeking to ignite the region and drag the United States into war, adding that it was clear Netanyahu did not want to end the “genocidal war” against the people of Gaza. He stated that Netanyahu’s request for accelerated U.S. military support for Israel was an outright admission of failure.
Hamas leader Izzat al-Rishq labeled Netanyahu’s speech a “show of lies and contempt for the world’s intelligence” in a Telegram post. Hamas spokesperson Jihad Taha, in press statements, described Netanyahu’s address to Congress as a “theatrical performance to justify his massacres against civilians,” asserting that Netanyahu delivered a “defeated speech” after more than nine months of resistance. Taha praised the protests and demonstrations that accompanied Netanyahu’s speech, where participants called for an end to aggression and massacres.
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for the Palestinian presidency, said the only solution to achieve security and stability in the Middle East is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Responding to Netanyahu’s speech to Reuters, Abu Rudeineh stated that only the Palestinian people and their sole legitimate representative, the Palestine Liberation Organization, can decide their leadership.
In his speech, Netanyahu had asserted, “Gaza must have a civilian administration run by Palestinians who do not seek to destroy Israel.”
Meanwhile, Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative, condemned Netanyahu’s appearance before Congress as a “session of shame,” describing the speech as “full of lies” and claiming that the civilization Netanyahu boasted of is actually “depravity.” In a statement, Barghouti said, “This was a session of shame for the U.S. Congress to host a war criminal like Netanyahu who commits genocide, ethnic cleansing, collective punishment, and starvation.”
