Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently one of the world’s most wanted war criminals, John.
In the last month, he’s ignored the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) order to stop his invasion of Rafah1, and has continued to openly commit war crimes — including firing rounds of airstrikes on Palestinian refugee camps in areas previously designated ‘safe humanitarian zones.’2
At the same time, he’s also the target of an application for an arrest warrant being sought by the chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC).3
And yet, despite all of this, both Republican and Democratic leaders have decided to honor him with an invitation to address a joint session of Congress in D.C. on July 24th.
Our elected representatives should not be validating Netanyahu and his extremist government, especially as he ignores President Biden’s red lines, continues to violate international laws, and refuses to agree to a ceasefire that would end the mass humanitarian suffering in Gaza and provide for the safe return of the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas.
Add your name to our petition today to demand that your representatives protest Netanyahu and his extremist government at his address to Congress next month.
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For over seven months, we’ve all witnessed the war crimes committed by Netanyahu’s government and the IDF and the devastation they have visited upon the Palestinian people. The airstrikes on hospitals, churches, mosques, and schools, the bombing of trapped civilians, the forced starvation, the restriction of humanitarian aid — the list goes on, and on, and on.
Right now, the role of the U.S. government should be to hold Netanyahu accountable for his atrocities, and to end all offensive military aid packages to Israel — not to invite him to address Congress and allow him to continue undermining ceasefire negotiations and stomping all over President Biden’s red lines.
Democrats from across the ideological spectrum of the party have already said they plan to boycott Netanyahu’s address to Congress in July,4 including some of our strongest WFP champions like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar. Others may choose to attend in protest.
But we are calling on more members of Congress to take a stand, and send this clear message:
Inviting a war criminal currently awaiting an arrest warrant from the ICC is not the move — ending weapons shipments to Israel and doing all we can to return the hostages and set a course for lasting peace by forcing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza is.
Sign your name today: Demand that your representatives protest Netanyahu at his visit to Congress next month.
In solidarity,
Working Families Party
Sources:
1. World Court Orders Israel to Halt Its Military Offensive Into Rafah, The New York Times, May 24, 2024.
2. Israeli Strikes on Tent Camps Near Rafah Kill At Least 25 and Wound 50, Gaza Health Officials Say, Time Magazine, June 21, 2024.
3. ICC prosecutor applies for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leaders, CBS News, May 21, 2024.
4. Clyburn says he won’t attend Netanyahu’s address to Congress, The Hill, June 9, 2024.
