Rep. Carbajal Statement on Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Address to U.S. Congress

Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, issued the following statement today following an address to Congress by Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

"While I wholeheartedly support Israel's right to defend itself in the wake of the horrific October 7 attack and rescue hostages still be held by Hamas, Prime Minister Netanyahu's address to Congress today went far beyond that shared commitment in ways that were detrimental to our chance of securing a lasting peace.

"The Prime Minister's reckless rhetoric lacked any acknowledgement of the thousands of civilians in Gaza who have died since October 7, ignored the continued violence that Israeli settlers inflict against Palestinians, and repeated blatant falsehoods when denying his administration's obstruction of humanitarian aid - something unanimously acknowledged by the United States and the wider international community. I also condemn his assertion that anyone exercising their right to free speech is an agent of our adversaries."

"I applaud the around-the-clock work the Biden-Harris Administration has been doing to secure the release of hostages and a lasting ceasefire in Gaza. And in recent weeks, their nonstop diplomacy has put a pathway to peace within reachwith Israel and Hamas both agreeing to initial frameworks laid out by President Biden.

"But by insisting that the pathway to ending the war can only come through more violence and weapons, Prime Minister Netanyahu showed today that he is willing to put his own interests and political gain ahead of securing that deal. And despite our shared commitment to the alliance between Israel and the United States, I remain deeply concerned that his bravado threatens to plunge his country and the region into larger and longer conflict."

Rep. Carbajal has repeatedly voiced concerns to President Biden over Israel's military operational strategies and signed a resolution calling for a renewal of a humanitarian ceasefire that had previously helped facilitate safe delivery of humanitarian aid and the release of hostages being held by Hamas.

In May, he raised specific concerns to President Biden about the Israeli government's restrictive policies on humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of Rep. Carbajal and Congress approving $9 billion in humanitarian aid to help those facing famine and other critical shortages.

Congressman Carbajal had advocated for the passage of that humanitarian aid since last fall and has continued to push the Biden Administration to help scale up efforts to deliver life-saving aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza, seek the renewal of a humanitarian ceasefire, secure the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas, and emphasize to Israel the need for a strategy that protects civilian life.