Turkish parliament condemns Netanyahu’s speech to US Congress

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The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) on July 27 accepted a resolution condemning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to the U.S. Congress, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

In the resolution, the Turkish parliament deemed Netanyahu giving a speech at the Congress “a shameful chapter in history.”

Netanyahu addressed the U.S. Congress on July 24 in a record fourth speech by a foreign leader to a joint meeting of the Senate and House of Representatives. Netanyahu was greeted by a standing ovation and cheers from Republicans, and a more subdued reception from Democrats.

The resolution deemed Netanyahu “a bloody war criminal,” who “took the decades-long unjust occupation and gross violations of law in Palestine to an unprecedented level with a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing in Gaza.”

It criticized the United States for “allowing a country that has never been a champion of democracy and human rights to speak to applause and cheers in its joint parliament, (which) is not only a democratic shame, but also an unfortunate challenge to the law and all human and moral values.”

“It is regrettable that a democratic institution, instead of restraining Israel's unrestrained aggression, has become a stage show full of lies that empower and embolden the perpetrators of great crimes against humanity. On the other hand, we find the attitude of those who are the voices of public conscience inside and outside the Congress building extremely valuable, and we appreciate the common-sense members of Congress who courageously opposed to the speech of a shady name in their parliament and did not attend the session,” it added.

“Netanyahu's show based on lies will not be enough to cover up the genocidal massacre and open war crimes that all humanity has witnessed from the beginning,” it said and called on the U.S and other decision-makers influential on Israel to “take effective measures to stop the bloodshed in Gaza, to increase political pressure on Israel for an immediate ceasefire and to support efforts for accountability for the grave crimes committed.”

Israel has killed at least 39,670 Palestinians and injured more than 100,000 people since Oct. 7 while continuing to carpet bomb the “designated safe zones” for civilians.