Netanyahu links Hamas propaganda to the killing of embassy staff in Washington
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attributes the murder of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington to Hamas propaganda and false reports of alleged Israel Defense Forces (IDF) atrocities in Gaza. In an English-language video released by his office, Netanyahu asserts that the attack on Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, carried out on the night of Wednesday, May 21, was not an isolated act. According to the prime minister, the "anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic" terrorist shot the couple while shouting "Free Palestine!" during their arrest, clearly intending to kill Jews.
"We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and the furious incitement (to violence) against the State of Israel," lamented Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But he went further, equating solidarity with Palestine with Nazism. "For these neo-Nazis, 'Free Palestine' is simply the modern version of 'Heil Hitler,'" he said.
He also lashed out at the United Kingdom, France, and Canada, whose leaders he accused of "encouraging Hamas to continue fighting forever."
Netanyahu denounces the international community's acceptance of Hamas's narrative, which accuses Israel of causing starvation among Palestinian children. The Israeli prime minister emphasized that since October 7, 2023, Israel has facilitated the entry of 92,000 aid trucks into Gaza, equivalent to 1.8 million tons of humanitarian aid. However, he claims that much of this aid has been confiscated by Hamas to benefit its terrorist members, rather than reaching the civilian population.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticizes international institutions for amplifying these false accusations. According to Netanyahu, a senior UN official recently claimed that 14,000 Palestinian babies would die within 48 hours, a statement he said was repeated by the press and widely believed. This climate of misinformation, he argues, contributed to the climate that led to the brutal murder of the young couple in Washington.
The Israeli leader insisted on the impossibility of a "peaceful" Palestinian state and accused European leaders of having "swallowed Hamas propaganda," including regarding the famine ravaging Gaza after nearly three months of blockade. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar also directly linked the attack to criticism of the massacres and deliberate incitement of famine in Gaza.
"There is a direct link between anti-Semitic and anti-Israel hate speech and this murder. This incitement is also carried out by leaders and officials in numerous countries and international organizations, especially in Europe," he stated.
The Israeli government's most radical allies were not far behind, adding their dose of messianism and hurling accusations at Israeli opponents who criticize the government. Israeli opposition figure Yair Golan countered that it was actually Netanyahu who "fueled antisemitism and hatred toward Israel, endangering all Jews around the world."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu firmly rejects proposals by some countries to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state. Netanyahu maintains that Hamas terrorists do not seek the creation of a Palestinian state, but rather the destruction of the Jewish state. He also expressed bewilderment at the failure of the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Canada to grasp this reality. These countries, in a joint statement issued this week, urged Israel to halt its offensive in Gaza, lift restrictions on humanitarian aid, halt settlement expansion in Judea and Samaria, and move toward a two-state solution.
Regarding the hostages held by the Hamas terrorist group, Netanyahu reaffirms his commitment to do everything possible to secure their release. The Israeli prime minister is willing to accept a temporary ceasefire to facilitate the release of more captives, but insists that all hostages must be released immediately.
He also points out that Israel is facing a seven-front war unleashed by Iran and its allies, where unwanted incidents sometimes occur.
Netanyahu cites a recent incident in Jenin, where Israeli troops fired warning shots near a delegation of Arab and European diplomats visiting Judea and Samaria. The incident, which left no injuries, sparked outrage in several countries, some of which summoned Israeli envoys to express their condemnation.
The Prime Minister maintains that the Israeli military regretted the incident, as Israel does not target civilians or diplomats, but rather terrorists, unlike Hamas. However, he regrets that countries that criticize him do not recognize this difference.
Meanwhile, the war continues in Gaza, and at least 52 more people have died recently, mostly in Gaza City and Deir al-Balah. Separately, Israel recently launched a series of near-simultaneous airstrikes against predominantly Shiite areas in southern and eastern Lebanon, where Hezbollah is strongly established.