‘Empty words’: Opposition and hostage families criticize Netanyahu's speech to Congress for not focusing on hostages

Coalition ministers, Gantz and Herzog commend Netanyahu

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The day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to a joint session of the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C., reactions in Israel were mixed.

Most criticism centered on Netanyahu’s perceived lack of focus on the hostage issue, after some hostage families hoped and demanded the prime minister announce the completion of a hostage deal with Hamas during his speech.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid responded to the speech in a video, asking: “What about the hostages? What did you say about [them] besides empty words?”

“He had an opportunity to present a ‘day-after’ plan that has some sort of connection to reality. He didn’t do that,” the Yesh Atid party chairman added. “He had an opportunity to gain all of Congress’s support for the residents of the north and against Hezbollah. He didn’t do that.”

“Instead of that, we heard him speak about October 7 as if he has no connection to what happened then,” he continued, adding that Netanyahu was “guilty of the negligence and terrible abandonment that led to the disaster.”

“The only commendable thing in the speech was the warm thanks he gave to President Biden, whom he has been defaming for months,” Lapid concluded.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum also lamented the absence of the announcement that a deal had been completed. Some hostage families and thousands of supporters followed a broadcast of the speech from Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square.

Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan remains captive in Gaza, and who has become among the most visible leaders of the hostages protest movement, gave a speech she had hoped Netanyahu would have given.

The prime minister, Zangauker said, would have done well to place “the hostages as the highest priority, proving what Zionism and love for Israel is.” She also expected him to commit to a deal, even at the price of ending the war, and to dismiss ministers who spoke out against the deal, she added.

More reactions came from Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who hasn't been a Netanyahu supporter during his political career, as well as from Benny Gantz, who recently exited the government over disagreements about the war policy.

“The immediate and urgent return of the hostages must be at the heart of the world agenda, as must the global threat from the Iranian evil and terrorist empire – and it’s important to reiterate this before the elected leaders of our greatest and most important ally,” Herzog wrote on 𝕏.

Gantz noted that “Netanyahu clearly, appreciatively and sharply presented the just stance of the State of Israel and our heroes.”

“First and foremost, we must remember that at this moment, over 100 hostages are being held captive, and we must act to bring them back, even at painful costs. Additionally, we must ensure the safe return of the residents of the north and the south to their homes, replace Hamas with the ‘day after’ plan and build a regional alliance,” Gantz added.

Unsurprisingly, several coalition members praised Netanyahu’s speech, including Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who called the speech “historic,” and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who said Jewish and Israeli hearts were “moved and filled with pride by the high standing of the prime minister, who represents us commendably and faithfully, with sharp and clear words, and by the warm reception reflecting a deep and wonderful partnership between the State of Israel and the United States of America."

ישראל ❤️ נתניהו
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) July 24, 2024

Somewhat more surprising was the reaction by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who on Wednesday made several controversial moves seemingly designed to grab headlines while Netanyahu was asleep in the U.S.

Ben Gvir posted “Israel loves Netanyahu” to his account on 𝕏.