Congressman Larson says Netanyahu ‘failing his country’ as Israel-Hamas war continues

In strong language, U.S. Rep. John B. Larson says that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is failing his country and the region” as the Israel-Hamas war continues.

Larson issued his comments Tuesday as fierce fighting continues following a brief pause for the release of hostages and prisoners who returned to their homes.

While stating that Israel “has the unequivocal right to defend itself” following an invasion by the Hamas terrorist group on Oct. 7, Larson said Israel needs to take further steps to bring peace in a war-torn land.

“Continued failure to heed President Biden’s warnings about prioritizing the protection of civilians, developing a plan for Palestinian governance of Gaza post-war, and putting an end to settler violence in the West Bank are eroding support for Israel among the international community and here at home in the United States,” Larson said. “I am calling for a new pause in fighting until Netanyahu and his government are able to lay out a strategy that would protect civilians, provide for sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid, remove Hamas for power, and begin immediate multilateral talks on securing a two-state solution. As with the previous humanitarian pause, it must also include the release of hostages from Hamas.”

Top American officials, including the national security adviser and defense secretary, have visited Israel recently and spoken directly with Netanyahu in the efforts to eventually bring peace to the region.

“The United States should begin the diplomatic process to discuss the future of Gaza post-war under Palestinian governance and to lay the groundwork for an end to the fighting, which must include the release of all remaining hostages by Hamas,” said Larson, an East Hartford Democrat who was first elected to Congress in 1998.

The plan should also include “the removal of Hamas from power in Gaza, a commitment by both sides to a two-state solution, including a plan for Palestinian governance in Gaza post-Hamas, and an end to settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank,” Larson said.

Members of the Connecticut delegation have taken a leading role in speaking out about the violence that has rocked Israel and Gaza since the Oct. 7 attacks.

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy raised eyebrows recently when he said that Israel’s military strikes that have killed thousands of civilians in the narrow Gaza Strip are not proportionate. Murphy’s views carry additional weight as he is a leading voice on overseas issues and a frequent guest on CNN and other national networks due to his role as chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and counterterrorism.

“I do believe that the level of civilian harm inside Gaza has been unacceptable and is unsustainable,” Murphy said on CNN. “I think there’s both a moral cost to this — many civilians, innocent civilians, children often losing their lives, but I think there’s a strategic cost. Ultimately, Hamas will get stronger, not weaker in the long run, if all of this civilian death allows them to recruit more effectively and ably inside Gaza.”

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal is offering bipartisan legislation with U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, to clamp down on Iran for providing funding for Hamas, which attacked Israel on Oct. 7, prompting an ongoing war. Without Iran’s support, Hamas could not operate and would have run out of supplies long ago, Blumenthal said.

“They are equipped, supplied, trained by Iran,” Blumenthal said recently. “They are fueled by the financial wherewithal that comes from Iran’s sales of oil. The United States has said it is imposing sanctions to prevent Iran from selling that oil. But all too often, these sanctions have been unenforced. The result has been a deluge of dollars going to Iran’s proxies. That’s the stark, undisputed truth. … Hamas would not exist without Iran.”

In early November, U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, a Wolcott Democrat, voted against a military package for Israel that did not include money for humanitarian aid, such as medical supplies, to help civilians in the Gaza Strip.

“It is with a heavy heart that I voted no to H.R. 6126, the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024, the aid package brought before the House of Representatives,” Hayes said. “This bill is exploiting a moment when we are seeing an unprecedented rise in antisemitism and, for the first time, conditioning emergency aid.”

Hayes added, “I continue to support Israel’s right to exist and defend herself in the fight against Hamas and will remain committed to thoughtfully considering any legislation that promotes that end. I will also continue to advocate for the millions of innocent Palestinian civilians living in Gaza and, for the delivery of much-needed aid into the Gaza Strip and continued negotiations for the release of hostages being held by Hamas.”

Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com