Today, Congress will convene a joint session to hear an address from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the horrific war in Gaza. 

In his address, Netanyahu will attempt to defend the indefensible. With near-unconditional support from the U.S. government, his government continues to wage a brutal, indiscriminate war that’s caused unprecedented civilian suffering.

More death and destruction will not make Israel, the U.S., or anyone safer.

At least 39,000 Palestinians, including 15,000 children, have been killed. Many more have been maimed and wounded. Nearly all people in Gaza are food insecure. Thousands of children are at risk of starvation and malnutrition. 

The moral urgency of a ceasefire is painfully clear. But it’s crucial that Congress also recognizes that ending the war is vital for our own national security. 

Earlier this month, we co-hosted a briefing for Congress with two former Biden administration officials who resigned over U.S. policy on the war. They explained that continued violence in Gaza is seriously undermining U.S. global standing and security while putting American service members and Israeli civilians in peril. 

Harrison Mann, a former U.S. Army Major who resigned from his intelligence position in May, explained that destroying Hamas is not an achievable military objective. More death and destruction will not make Israel, the U.S., or anyone safer, he said. 
 

Instead, Mann warned that with each passing day the war in Gaza continues, we’re nearing closer to an “incredibly dangerous” situation that could spark a major regional war with frightening implications for American troops and Israeli civilians. 

Hala Rharrit, an experienced diplomat and counterterrorism expert, resigned as the State Department’s spokesperson for the Middle East and North Africa in April. Before leaving the post, she said that she saw “day after day” how U.S. support for the Gaza war “was not only a failure, but endangering U.S. national security” and driving an “unprecedented level” of anti-American sentiment in the region.

“We’re seen as absolutely heartless,” Rharrit said. “We are no longer a nation of laws in the eyes of many around the world. And to what end?”


But as Rharrit emphasized, there is another path forward. “It’s stopping the bloodshed. It’s stopping the violence. It’s stopping the war,” she said. 


As Netanyahu’s address puts the spotlight back on Gaza, let’s make sure that our representatives also hear these critical messages and our voices for peace. 

As Rharrit said, we can use our voices to push our leaders to use U.S. leverage to secure an enduring ceasefire. “We have the ability to do that,” she said. “We really do. But we need to act now.”

Bryan Bowman

Bryan Bowman

Social Media and Communications Strategist

Bryan Bowman is FCNL’s social media and communications strategist. In this role, he manages FCNL’s social media platforms, supports the production of FCNL’s digital content, and represents the communications team in coalition efforts.

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