Netanyahu also said he was “confident” that a hostage release and ceasefire deal could be reached, but did not offer much details, even as nearly two dozen relatives of the 120 captives still held in Gaza sat in the gallery overlooking the prime minister.
As he laid out the trauma that Israel had experienced on October 7 and its determination to root out the threats posed by Hamas and Iran, the prime minister was frequently interrupted by raucous applause and standing ovations — on both sides of the aisle, though Republicans were noticeably more enthusiastic.
Netanyahu pointed out some of the hostage families in the audience and pledged that he wouldn’t rest until all of their loved ones were returned home, while thanking US President Joe Biden for “his tireless efforts” on behalf of the hostages and the families.
But many of the relatives in the audience — particularly a delegation of roughly a dozen family members of American captives — were visibly unimpressed. The parents of hostages Hersh Goldberg-Polin and Omer Neutra remained in their seats, even after Netanyahu pledged to secure a deal. READ MORE
Roughly 10 other hostage relatives wore bright yellow t-shirts under their unbuttoned suits that read “Seal the Deal Now.” The yellow-shirt wearers made a point of remaining standing at various moments after the rest of the audience was seated, drawing attention to themselves as they stared down Netanyahu.
Three of those individuals were forcibly removed from the chamber and detained by law enforcement.