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Netanyahu Address to US Congress, ICC Arrest Warrants Lay Bare Democrat Divides Over Israel
US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) makes a statement after meetings to wrap up work on coronavirus economic aid legislation, during the COVID-19 outbreak, in Washington, US, March 22, 2020. Photo: REUTERS/Mary F. Calvert.
A dramatic variance in responses from US Democratic lawmakers to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming address to a joint session of Congress and efforts by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to seek his arrest are exposing potential fractures within America’s primary left-wing party over its support for the Jewish state.
A slew of Democratic lawmakers are seething over Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ (D-NY) decision to sign an invitation for Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress.
Likewise, some Democrats are jubilant over ICC prosecutor Karim Khan’s decision to seek an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war — an act that seemingly placed the Israeli leader on the same moral level of Hamas terrorists Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh, whose arrests the ICC is also seeking.
Schumer’s weeks-long hesitation in joining Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) in extending an invitation to Netanyahu, coupled with his earlier condemnation of the Israeli premier, signaled intraparty disagreement among Democrats over the Jewish state. Netanyahu later accepted the invitation. Punchbowl News reported on Monday that the Israeli premier will address a joint meeting of Congress on June 13.
“It is a very sad day for our country that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been invited — by leaders from both parties — to address a joint meeting of the United States Congress,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who caucuses with the Democrats. “Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal. He should not be invited to address a joint meeting of Congress. I certainly will not attend.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) told reporters that Netanyahu should not be invited to speak before Congress.
“I just don’t think it’s constructive for Netanyahu to be addressing, to be doing a joint address in this moment, period,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
While appearing on a Twitch stream with anti-Israel influencer Hasan Piker, Ocasio-Cortez agreed that the Abraham Accords — a series of historic peace agreements between Israel and Arab states brokered with the help of the US — “absolutely” and “10,000 percent” motivated Hamas to commit its brutal slaughter against Israel on Oct. 7.
However, some Democrats signaled support for Netanyahu’s speech, arguing that supporting an ally in its time of need should supersede minor political disagreements.
“Even though we might have policy disagreements with [Netanyahu], as we do with some of our NATO allies, I think he should get with the speaker and make it bipartisan,” Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) told Axios.
Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH) said that Congress is capable of acknowledging “heads of state without agreeing with everything they say.”
Likewise, Democrats are also divided over the prospect of Netanyahu potentially being handed a warrant by the ICC.
US President Biden initially called the ICC’s warrant request of Netanyahu “outrageous.” However, his administration later indicated that it would not join Republican attempts to sanction the international court.
The administration’s response to the ICC was met with criticisms by both anti-Israel and pro-Israel Democrats.
While speaking at a terrorist-connected pro-Palestinian conference, Rep. Rashida Tliab (D-MI), lambasted the Biden administration for “attacking the authority” of the ICC.
“The International Court of Justice just ruled that the Israeli government must stop its invasion of Rafah, but President Biden says what’s happening in Gaza is not a genocide,” Tlaib said. “Where’s your red line, President Biden?”
Tlaib’s forceful condemnation of Biden irked some of her colleagues.
“If people don’t like Biden and successfully work against his re-election, they’ll be responsible for the the undoing of America,” Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) told Axios.
Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) drew a direct contrast to Tlaib, saying, “[I am] using every ounce of my free time to support President Biden. … He has been transparent and dedicated to Israel and I am proud to support his foreign aid agenda that protects democracy and stands by the Jewish people worldwide.”
A group of 19 Democrats issued a letter to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen last week, urging the Biden administration to pursue sanctions against the ICC.
“We urge the administration to consult with Congress to immediately impose sanctions against the ICC’s Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan and any other officials who have demonstrated undue bias in their actions,” the letter read.
“The charges against Israeli leaders are baseless. They reflect the ICC’s well-documented historical bias against Israel. The evidence is clear: Hamas terrorists are responsible for wreaking havoc and sowing destruction,” the letter continued.
Democrats have found themselves increasingly divided over Israel in recent months. Progressive Democrats such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) have suggested that Israel’s military response to Hamas is tantamount to “genocide.” Meanwhile, moderate Democrats such as Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and John Fetterman (D-PA) have steadfastly supported the Jewish state’s military campaign to dislodge the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas from the Gaza Strip.
The post Netanyahu Address to US Congress, ICC Arrest Warrants Lay Bare Democrat Divides Over Israel first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Israel Pounds Gaza City Suburbs, Vows to Press on with Offensive
Smoke rises following an Israeli strike, in Gaza City, August 24, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Israeli planes and tanks pounded the eastern and northern outskirts of Gaza City overnight Saturday to Sunday, destroying buildings and homes, residents said, as Israeli leaders vowed to press on with a planned offensive on the city.
Witnesses reported the sound of explosions non-stop overnight in the areas of Zeitoun and Shejaia, while tanks shelled houses and roads in the nearby Sabra neighborhood and several buildings were blown up in the northern town of Jabalia.
Fire lit the skies from the direction of the explosions, causing panic, prompting some families to stream out of the city. Others said they would prefer to die and not leave.
The Israeli military said on Sunday that its forces have returned to combat in the Jabalia area in recent days, to dismantle militant tunnels and strengthen control of the area.
It added that the operation there “enables the expansion of combat into additional areas and prevents Hamas terrorists from returning to operate in these areas.”
Israel approved a plan this month to seize control of Gaza City, describing it as the last bastion of Hamas. It is not expected to begin for a few weeks, leaving room for mediators Egypt and Qatar to try and resume ceasefire talks.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz on Sunday vowed to press on with the offensive on the city where famine has been declared, which has raised alarm abroad and objections at home. Katz has said that Gaza City will be razed unless Hamas agrees to end the war on Israel’s terms and release all hostages.
Hamas said in a statement on Sunday that Israel’s plan to take over Gaza City showed it wasn’t serious about a ceasefire.
It said a ceasefire agreement was “the only way to return the hostages,” holding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responsible for their lives.
The proposal on the table calls for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 10 living hostages held in Gaza and of 18 bodies. In turn, Israel would release about 200 long-serving Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Once a temporary ceasefire begins, the proposal is for Hamas and Israel to begin negotiations on a permanent ceasefire that would include the return of the remaining hostages.
On Thursday, Netanyahu said that Israel would immediately resume negotiations for the release of all 50 hostages – of whom Israel believes around 20 are still living – and an end to the nearly two-year-old war but on terms acceptable to Israel.
‘HUNGRY AND AFRAID’
Around half of the enclave’s two million people currently live in Gaza City. A few thousand have already left, carrying their belongings on vehicles and rickshaws.
“I stopped counting the times I had to take my wife and three daughters and leave my home in Gaza City,” said Mohammad, 40, via a chat app. “No place is safe, but I can’t take the risk. If they suddenly begin the invasion, they will use heavy fire.”
Others said they will not leave, no matter what.
“We are not leaving, let them bomb us at home,” said Aya, 31, who has a family of eight, adding that they couldn’t afford to buy a tent or pay for the transportation, even if they did try to leave. “We are hungry, afraid and don’t have money.”
A global hunger monitor said on Friday that Gaza City and surrounding areas are officially suffering from famine that will likely spread. Israel has rejected the assessment and says it ignores steps it has taken since late July to increase aid.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led gunmen burst into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and taking 251 hostages.
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Iran Signals Willingness to Scale Back Uranium Enrichment to Ease Tensions
Atomic symbol and USA and Iranian flags are seen in this illustration taken, September 8, 2022. Photo: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
i24 News – Iran may be prepared to significantly reduce its uranium enrichment levels in a bid to stave off renewed UN sanctions and limit the risk of further strikes by Israel and the United States, according to a report published Sunday in The Telegraph.
Citing Iranian sources, the paper said Tehran is considering lowering enrichment from 60% to 20%.
The move is reportedly being championed by Ali Larijani, the newly appointed secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, who is holding talks with regime leaders.
“Larijani is trying to convince the system to reduce the level of enrichment in order to avoid further war,” a senior Iranian official told the paper.
The proposal, however, faces stiff resistance from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has long opposed concessions on the nuclear program. Still, the report suggests Iran’s leadership may be open to greater flexibility, including the possibility of reviving engagement with Western powers.
Last month, i24NEWS reported exclusively that a delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is expected to travel to Iran. The team of technical experts would seek to resume monitoring of nuclear sites, inspections that have been heavily restricted in recent years.
The development comes amid mounting regional tensions and could represent a critical turning point in the long-running nuclear standoff.
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Major Brush Fire Erupts Near Jerusalem, Evacuations Underway
A view of the new Tel Aviv-Jerusalem fast train seen over the HaArazim Valley (“Valley of Cedars”) just outside of Jerusalem, Sept. 25, 2018. Photo: Yossi Zamir/Flash90.
i24 News – A large brush fire broke out Sunday in the Cedars Valley area, near Route 1 and the Motza interchange, prompting an emergency response from Jerusalem district fire services. Several water-bombing planes were dispatched, and authorities have declared a “fire emergency.”
As a precaution, residents of Mevaseret Zion are being evacuated. Access to the town from Route 1 has already been blocked, and officials are weighing a full closure of the major highway.
Fire crews from the Ha’uma station are on site working to contain the flames, while motorists in the area are urged to heed traffic updates and follow instructions from emergency services.
Eight firefighting aircraft are currently operating above the blaze in support of ground teams. The fire comes amid one of the hottest, driest summers on record, with conditions fueling a series of destructive wildfires across the country.
Officials warn the situation remains critical, as the blaze threatens a vital transportation corridor leading into Jerusalem.