U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib made headlines by calling for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Washington, D.C. Tlaib, the only Palestinian American member of Congress, protested Netanyahu’s address before a joint meeting of Congress by holding up a sign that read “war criminal” and “guilty of genocide.” Her actions drew attention to the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the broader political and humanitarian issues surrounding Israeli policies.
Tlaib’s protest was a powerful statement against Netanyahu’s policies. Holding up a sign reading “war criminal” and “guilty of genocide,” she declared on social media, “They will not erase us. Palestinians exist and we deserve to live. Our presence today will be a reminder that we aren’t going anywhere.” She emphasized her commitment to speaking truth to power, condemning what she described as the apartheid government of Israel committing genocide against Palestinians.
Tlaib brought Hani Almadhoun as her guest to the address. Almadhoun has lost over 150 members of his extended family in Gaza. Tlaib highlighted his story, including the horrifying moment his sister was forced to eat animal feed, which motivated Almadhoun to start a soup kitchen to feed his starving neighbors. She accused the Israeli regime of using starvation as a weapon of war, labeling it a war crime.
Netanyahu’s speech was boycotted by over 135 congressional Democrats, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Sanders stated on social media, “Netanyahu is not only a war criminal. He is a liar. All humanitarian organizations agree: Tens of thousands of children face starvation because his extremist government continues to block aid. Israelis want him out of office. So he came to Congress to campaign.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez noted the low attendance at Netanyahu’s speech, criticizing it as a tactic to project full support. Rep. Sara Jacobs expressed her refusal to attend, citing the deaths of over 39,000 Palestinians and the lack of safety Netanyahu has brought to Israel. “We need tangible actions to end this war and all the suffering—not performative gestures,” she said. Rep. Greg Casar also boycotted the speech, condemning Netanyahu for failing to return hostages and for the extensive harm caused to Palestinians.
Netanyahu’s address was met with frequent applause from the attending lawmakers and guests. He targeted Hamas and what he called “Iran’s axis of terror,” framing the conflict as a battle between civilization and barbarism. He condemned accusations of Israel being racist and genocidal as slanderous and accused pro-Palestinian protesters of siding with evil, suggesting without evidence that Iran funded these protests.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who is also the Senate president, did not preside over the meeting but was scheduled to meet privately with Netanyahu later. This absence further highlighted the controversial nature of Netanyahu’s visit.
Netanyahu’s visit sparked significant protests, particularly from Jewish-led groups. Hundreds of demonstrators were arrested inside a congressional building while protesting U.S. support for Israel’s actions in Gaza and Netanyahu’s speech. Thousands more protested outside the Capitol, organized by peace groups like Win Without War and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
Stephen Miles, president of Win Without War, criticized the speech as a political stunt. “This was a political stunt dreamed up by a House speaker trying to score political points and embraced by the prime minister as a desperate ploy to try and blunt the massive global condemnation and domestic political opposition he faces,” Miles stated.
Netanyahu faces significant legal challenges internationally. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan has applied for arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed since October 7. These charges include extermination and deliberately starving the people of Gaza, allegations supported by U.N. experts and human rights groups.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is also involved in a genocide case led by South Africa. U.N. World Food Program Executive Director Cindy McCain reported a “full-blown famine” in Gaza, where many Palestinians, mostly children, have died due to malnutrition and lack of medical care.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is severe. Over 39,000 civilians, including 16,000 children, have been killed since October. Malnutrition, dehydration, and lack of medical care are rampant. Despite these conditions, Netanyahu claimed that Israel has implemented more precautions to prevent civilian harm than any military in history, a statement met with skepticism given the high civilian casualties.
Netanyahu also faced accusations from the ICC of lying about deliberately targeting civilians, which he vehemently denied. He asserted that Israel’s actions were in self-defense and necessary to protect its citizens.
The U.S. government’s support for Israel remains strong, with President Biden approving billions in military aid and blocking U.N. Security Council resolutions calling for a cease-fire. Netanyahu’s speech included an appeal for even more support, arguing that quicker aid would help Israel “finish the job faster.”
Calls for a shift in U.S. policy towards Israel and Palestine are growing. Critics argue that unconditional support for Israel exacerbates the conflict and harms U.S. security interests.
Tlaib’s protest and the broader opposition to Netanyahu’s speech highlight the urgent need for accountability and justice in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Following her call for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s arrest during his visit to Washington, D.C., U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib protested the right-wing leader’s Wednesday address before a joint meeting of Congress by holding up a sign reading “war criminal” and “guilty of genocide.”
“They will not erase us. Palestinians exist and we deserve to live. Our presence today will be a reminder that we aren’t going anywhere,” Tlaib (D-Mich.) said on social media. “I will never back down in speaking truth to power. The apartheid government of Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians.”
Tlaib—the only Palestinian American member of Congress—brought a guest: Hani Almadhoun, “who has lost over 150 members of his extended family in Netanyahu’s genocide” in Gaza.
“After witnessing his sister forced to eat animal feed, he and his family were determined to start a soup kitchen to feed their starving neighbors,” the congresswoman said. “The Israeli apartheid regime is using starvation as a weapon of war, a war crime.”
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