Numerous Democratic lawmakers expressed their intension to boycott Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on Wednesday, voicing their concern over the thousands of civilian casualties and the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel’s campaign in Gaza.
The veteran Israeli leader is set to deliver his fourth address to a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives at 1800 GMT, breaking the record held by British wartime leader Winston Churchill, who gave three such speeches. The tradition of foreign leaders addressing Congress dates back to 1874, when King Kalakaua of Hawaii, prior to Hawaii becoming a state, was the first to do so.
Netanyahu’s visit to the United States has sparked significant protests, leading to the arrest of 200 demonstrators at the US Congress building. The US Capitol Police emphasised that demonstrating inside the Congressional Building is illegal.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces have launched a new ground assault in Khan Younis, killing at least 121 Palestinian, including children, and wounded more than 250 others over the past 24 hours. Many Palestinians remain trapped in Khan Younis, unable to flee after receiving only an hour’s notice from Israeli forces. Around 150,000 people fled to al-Mawasi, an area with little infrastructure, many leaving behind all their possessions. Israeli occupation forces continue fierce attacks in Khan Younis, while five Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in an attack on Jabalia al-Balad in northern Gaza.
In the Qalandiya refugee camp, the Israeli military blew up a home and shot and wounded at least two Palestinians during an operation.
The current assault is part of Israel’s broader campaign to drive Palestinians out of Gaza and destroy civilian infrastructure, which analysts say is aimed at making the enclave unliveable. Since 7 October, Israel has killed at least 39,090 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and wounded 90,147 others in Gaza.
Human Rights Watch has accused Israeli forces of committing war crimes by publishing degrading images and videos of detained Palestinians, including children. The organisation reported that Israeli forces stripped detainees, filmed them, and shared the images, which constitutes sexual violence and war crimes. Balkees Jarrah, acting Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, stated that senior Israeli officials and military commanders could be held criminally responsible for these actions.
Israeli forces shot dead a customs officer in Tubas, while in the Qalandiya refugee camp, a Palestinian man was shot and another run over during a raid that included the demolition of a home. Earlier this morning, a 13-year-old boy succumbed to his wounds after being shot by Israeli forces in Tulkarem.
Since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza, the occupied West Bank has seen mass arrests, raids, and killings become a nearly daily occurrence. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that at least 513 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since 7 October.
