Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the US Congress promising increased efforts to return the captives is “a complete lie and misleading Israeli, American, and international public opinion,” Hamas said on Wednesday.
According to Hamas, Netanyahu is “the one who thwarted all efforts aimed at ending the war and concluding a deal to release the prisoners.”
Netanyahu’s views on the future of the Gaza Strip are “pure delusions and fantasies,” stated Hamas, adding that “Palestinian people are the only ones who have the right to determine their fate and who will rule them.”
In the statement, Hamas accused Washington of continuing to assist Israel with all forms of political and military backing, and for allowing the Israeli leadership to avoid punishment.
Other statements by Netanyahu were also deemed fake, “Andalou Agency” highlighted one: “Despite all the lies you’ve heard, the war in Gaza has one of the lowest ratios of combatants to non-combatant casualties in the history of urban warfare.”
The agency went on to confirm, that Gaza’s reported death toll sits at nearly 40,000, most of which are women, children, and non-combatants, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry’s list of the deceased, including Israeli-issued identification numbers.
Another damning claim by Netanyahu said that if there are Palestinians in Gaza who are not getting enough food, it is not because Israel is blocking it and that Hamas is stealing it, the same source recounted.
The UN and international relief groups have repeatedly sounded the alarm at Israeli restrictions on the entry of humanitarian assistance, denials on forward movement once convoys enter Gaza, and Israel’s repeated attacks on convoys as they attempt to make vital deliveries. A series of Israeli airstrikes on a World Central Kitchen aid convoy on April 1 killed seven workers and led to major aid groups pausing their operations.
Netanyahu addressed the United States Congress. he had previously stated that he would aim to “anchor the bipartisan support” for Israel in the US Congress.
His visit to the US comes amid mounting criticism of Netanyahu for failing to obtain the release of about 120 hostages still held in Gaza, as well as the continuance of the fatal battle in Palestine.