Netanyahu speech cheered in Congress, decried by hostage families
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress has been decride by some of the families of hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
Cheers and standing ovations greeted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress in Washington, the heart of American political power. But the barnstorming address left the father of 19-year-old soldier and Hamas hostage Liri Albag feeling heartsick.
“When he talked for 55 minutes and didn’t talk about the deal for one second, I was very upset, embarrassed and angry,” Eli Albag said in a phone interview Thursday about what he viewed as Netanyahu's unwillingness to strike a deal with Hamas for the release of relatives being held in the Gaza Strip.
He added that he wanted to believe that the return of Israeli hostages like Liri was a priority for the Israeli leader, but he said he hasn’t seen “the results.”
Albag, 55, is one of several family members of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza who demanded to meet with cease-fire negotiators after Israeli media and Reuters reported that an Israeli delegation had not set off for talks in Qatar on Thursday as planned. Instead it was reported that they were held back until next week.
Rescued Israeli hostage Noa Argamani, standing next to Benjamin Netanyahu's wife, Sara, is acknowledged in the House chamber Wednesday.Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty ImagesNetanyahu railed against Hamas and Iran in his Wednesday address, and he said Israel would not settle for anything less than “total victory” in its offensive in Gaza, which he said “could end tomorrow if Hamas surrenders, disarms and returns all the hostages.” If they didn’t, he said, “Israel will fight until we destroy Hamas’ military capabilities and its rule in Gaza and bring all our hostages home.”
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