Democratic firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) issued a statement on X explaining that she would not be in attendance:More than 50 members of Congress have publicly stated they are skipping Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address in protest of the ongoing war in Gaza, which has led to the deaths of more than 39,000 Palestinians.
POLITICO reports the number of those not attending comes close to the 58 lawmakers who skipped the Israeli leader's speech in 2015.
It is a dark day in US history when an authoritarian with warrant requests from the International Criminal Court is allowed to address a joint session of Congress. 40k Palestinians are dead. Hostages aren’t home. Netanyahu is a war criminal. I will be boycotting his address. It is a dark day in US history when an authoritarian with warrant requests from the International Criminal Court is allowed to address a joint session of Congress.
40k Palestinians are dead.
Hostages aren’t home.
Netanyahu is a war criminal.
I will be boycotting his address.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 23, 2024 Netanyahu has faced intense criticism over his handling of the conflict, after nine months of war, a mounting death count, hostages still held in captivity by Hamas, and his vow to continue fighting despite none of his stated war aims being achieved. His speech attempting to elevate support for Israel’s military offensive comes seven months after the International Court of Justice ruled that it is “plausible” that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and two months after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes. Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now the likely Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential election, declined to preside over Netanyahu’s address to Congress. Her absence underscores the strained relationships with her Israeli counterparts and members of her own party who are divided over the conflict. Harris is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu at a later date to discuss the military campaign in Gaza. “We anticipate the Vice President will convey her view that it is time for the war to end in a way where Israel is secure, all hostages are released, the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can enjoy their right to dignity, freedom, and self-determination,” an aide to Harris told CNN. “And they will discuss efforts to reach agreement on the ceasefire deal.” Two Republicans will not be in attendance for Netanyahu’s address: Ohio Senator JD Vance, who was recently named former President Donald Trump’s running mate, and Kentucky’s Rep. Thomas Massie, who is skipping the event for ideological reasons. “Today Congress will undertake political theater on behalf of the State Department,” Massie said in a post on X. “The purpose of having Netanyahu address Congress is to bolster his political standing in Israel and to quell int’l opposition to his war. I don’t feel like being a prop so I won’t be attending.”
Today Congress will undertake political theater on behalf of the State Department.
The purpose of having Netanyahu address Congress is to bolster his political standing in Israel and to quell int’l opposition to his war.
I don’t feel like being a prop so I won’t be attending.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) July 24, 2024
Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) said that she would not be attending Netanyahu’s speech over his failure to adequately defend Israelis and the mounting death toll of Palestinians.
“I won’t attend Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech today,” she wrote on X. “His military has reportedly killed over 39,000 Palestinians. He hasn’t brought the hostages home. He hasn’t made Israel any safer. We need tangible actions to end this war and all the suffering – not performative gestures.”
