During Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit and address to a joint session of the US Congress on Wednesday, Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian American member of Congress, protested in the chamber. While Netanyahu received a standing ovation from some lawmakers, others chose to stay away, and thousands of protesters demonstrated outside.
Tlaib, a prominent progressive Democrat and vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, held a sign reading “war criminal” as Netanyahu spoke. She also wore a Palestinian flag pin and a keffiyeh, a scarf associated with the Palestinian struggle.
Read more: Israel’s Netanyahu departs for ‘very important’ US trip: PM office
The other side of her sign read “Guilty of genocide.” She was accompanied by Hani Almadhoun, a Palestinian who has lost over 150 family members since Israel’s war against Hamas began following the group’s surprise attack on southern Israel from Gaza last October. Tlaib highlighted Almadhoun’s story on X (formerly Twitter), noting how his family started a soup kitchen to feed their starving neighbors after witnessing severe hardships.
THIS WOMAN WILL FOREVER BE A HERO FOR HOLDING THIS UP TOWARDS NETANYAHU DURING CONGRESS pic.twitter.com/6DxcTNyHhH
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) July 25, 2024
Before Netanyahu’s address, a coalition of progressives, human rights advocates, former Biden administration officials, and some Democratic lawmakers held a press call to denounce his invitation to Capitol Hill.
Read more: Most Israelis want Netanyahu to resign over October 7 attack – poll
They demanded a US arms embargo on Israel and called for a ceasefire. Democratic Representatives Ayanna Pressley, Greg Casar, Pramila Jayapal, and Cori Bush were among those boycotting the speech. Pressley emphasized the need to stop the transfer and sale of offensive weapons to Israel, calling the ongoing conflict a genocide.
We wonder why our babies are starving in America? Why we have a corrupt healthcare system? Why we lack clean food, air and water?
Look at our Congress.
Look at them shower a man who has starved Gaza, bombed hospitals, and murdered tens of thousands of people. https://t.co/ziivlccP0N
— Nina Turner (@ninaturner) July 24, 2024
In late June, a senior Biden administration official stated that the US has provided $6.5 billion in security assistance to Israel since October 7.
"I will never back down in speaking truth to power," says @RashidaTlaib in protest of Netanyahu's address to Congress. "The apartheid government of Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians." https://t.co/ENwGHFseUV
— Common Dreams (@commondreams) July 24, 2024
