Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies, calling him an “obstacle” to a two-state solution between Israel and Gaza. She urged Netanyahu to resign, claiming responsibility for the deadly response to Hamas’s attack on Israel.
During an interview with RTÉ’s Six One News while visiting Ireland, Pelosi discussed the aftermath of Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel and Netanyahu’s subsequent counteroffensive, which Palestinian health officials reported resulted in the deaths of over 34,000 Palestinians.
“We recognize Israel’s right to protect itself. We reject the policy and the practice of Netanyahu,” she said. “Terrible. What could be worse than what he has done in response?”
While criticizing Netanyahu’s leadership, Pelosi reiterated the United States’ support for Israel, citing national security interests. She characterized Netanyahu’s tenure as a barrier to peace in the region for years.
“I don’t know whether he’s afraid of peace, incapable of peace, or just doesn’t want peace, but he has been an obstacle to the two-state solution,” Pelosi said. “I emphasize the word solution.”
Pelosi’s remarks follow a recent vote by 365 lawmakers to approve a massive foreign aid package that included funds for Israel’s military. The House’s approval of aid for Israel and Ukraine, among other war-torn regions, came over six months after Hamas’s attack, which sparked the conflict in the Middle East. The aid package allocated approximately $26 billion to Israel, with $9.2 billion designated for global humanitarian aid.
Many Democrats opposed the bill due to its lack of conditions on aid to Jerusalem. This marked the third time the House had approved assistance for Israel, and the package is awaiting Senate approval, which is anticipated this week.
