Senator Van Hollen Critiques Netanyahu's Political Maneuvering During U.S. Visit

Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen recently shared insights from his trip to Israel, where he met with families of hostages taken by Hamas. He expressed concern that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming address to Congress could be a political maneuver aimed at boosting his declining popularity in Israel. Van Hollen emphasized that many hostage families urged him not to be used as a political prop during this visit, highlighting their desire for genuine support rather than political exploitation. When asked if Congress was being used as a prop by Netanyahu, Van Hollen affirmed this belief, stating that the families he met with wanted Netanyahu to take responsibility for the intelligence failures that exacerbated the Hamas attack. He called for Netanyahu to engage directly with the families before addressing Congress, underscoring the need for accountability in the ongoing conflict. Van Hollen also addressed the broader implications of Netanyahu's policies, suggesting that the U.S. should confront the extremist positions held by Netanyahu and his allies, such as Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir. He noted that many Israelis are protesting against these right-wing policies, which they feel neglect the urgent issue of returning hostages. In conclusion, Van Hollen's remarks reflect a growing frustration among some U.S. lawmakers regarding Netanyahu's approach to the crisis, advocating for a more principled stance that prioritizes humanitarian concerns over political gain.