🇺🇸 🇮🇱 🇵🇸 Netanyahu Pledges "Total Victory" in Gaza, Thousands Protest in Capitol: @AtlasNewsTelegram

"Thousands of #UnitedStates protesters against the war in #Gaza, #Palestine, converged on #WashingtonDC on Wednesday to condemn Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin #Netanyahu’s visit, chanting and marching toward the Capitol before police deployed pepper spray on some in the crowd.

Demonstrators calling for an end to the war that has killed more than 39,000 Palestinians filled several blocks as they weaved through the streets of the nation’s capital carrying Palestinian flags and signs with messages such as “arrest Netanyahu” and “end all U.S. aid to #Israel.” Outside Union Station, protesters removed American flags and hoisted Palestinian ones in their place to massive cheers in the crowd.

Throngs of demonstrators rallied near the Capitol before starting their march ahead of Netanyahu’s joint address to Congress, but police blocked them from getting close to the building. Police said they used pepper spray after some protesters became “violent” and “failed to obey” orders to move back from the police line. Batons were also used during brawls at various points.

Outside of Union Station, at least four protesters were handcuffed and taken away by police. The Capitol Police said about 200 people were arrested Tuesday on charges stemming from the sit-in at the Cannon building. Jewish Voice for Peace, which organized the protest, said many more than that were arrested, rabbis among them.

Families of some of the remaining hostages held a protest vigil Tuesday evening on the National Mall, demanding that Netanyahu come to terms with #Hamas and bring home the approximately 120 Israeli hostages remaining in Gaza.

Netanyahu pledged in a scathing speech to Congress on Wednesday to achieve “total victory” against Hamas and denounced American opponents of the war in Gaza as “idiots,” taking a combative stance in a visit the Biden administration hopes can yield progress to negotiations.

Netanyahu used the high-profile address to a joint meeting of Congress to emphasize longstanding and close ties between the United States and Israel. The speech was marked by dozens of Democratic lawmakers boycotting the address and thousands of protesters outside the Capitol condemning the war and the humanitarian crisis created by it.

Speaking for nearly an hour to frequent applause from U.S. lawmakers, as well as stony silence from many leading Democrats, Netanyahu said the U.S. has a shared interest in his country’s fight against Hamas and other Iran-backed armed groups.

“America and Israel must stand together. When we stand together something really simple happens: We win, they lose,” said Netanyahu.

The Israeli leader soon pivoted as he derided those protesting the war on college campuses and elsewhere in the U.S., gesturing to demonstrations happening on the streets outside the Capitol. He called protesters “useful idiots” for Israel’s adversaries.

Netanyahu — making his first trip abroad since the war started — made no direct mention of months of U.S.-led mediation for a cease-fire and hostage-release.

“Israel will fight until we destroy Hamas’s military capabilities and its rule in Gaza and bring all our hostages home,” he said. “That’s what total victory means. And we will settle for nothing less.”–AP

https://apnews.com/article/netanyahu-congress-gaza-hamas-israel-6ea5daf3cd1988b0ad6e874bd450f9bf
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While addressing Congress, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested that the United States and Israel “forge an alliance in the Middle East to counter the growing Iranian threat.” Via theatlasnews.co

“All countries at peace with Israel and all those countries that will make peace with Israel should invited to join this alliance,” he added.

He said that he saw a “potential glimpse” of the alliance on April 14 when the US and other ally nations helped intercept drones and missiles fired at Israel by Iran.

“The new alliance I envision would be a natural extension of the Abraham Accords…we should call it the Abraham Alliance.”

Graffiti on the Liberty Bell replica and Colombus memorial at the Capitol from demonstrators as well as a flag burning. During the U.S. Capitol demonstrations in Washington D.C. Also, video of a Palestinian flag being raised after a U.S. one was taken down. @AtlasNewsTelegram

Photos and videos from Andrew Leyden, BGonthescene, Katie Pavlich, Lucas Tomlinson, and Gabrielle Dankanich.

U.S. flag lowered and set on fire amid chants from pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the Capitol during Israeli PM Netanyahu's speech to Congress in Washington D.C. During protests, other U.S. flags were lowered and replaced with Palestinian ones or set ablaze, police arrested some perpetrators and prevented some flags from being taken. Images from BGonthescene and Andrew Leyden. @AtlasNewsTelegram

🇷🇺 🇨🇳 ⚠️ 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇬🇧 Interception for Interception:

Two #Russian Tu-95 and two #Chinese H-6 long range strategic bombers were detected and tracked within the #Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) during a joint patrol on the 24th of July over international waters of the #BeringSea reported NORAD. @AtlasNewsTelegram

While Russian flight operations in the area are common and not seen as a threat, this marks the first time Chinese aircraft have been detected in the airspace.

The bombers were intercepted by #American and #Canadian fighters. Via theatlasnews.co
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The Russian Defense Ministry said the joint patrol also flew over the Chukchi Sea, which is on the north side of the Bering Strait. Russian fighter jets and strategic bombers were joined by Chinese strategic bombers in the exercises, which lasted more than five hours, the ministry said.

The joint patrol tested and improved coordination between the two air forces, said Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for China’s Defense Ministry. He said it was the eighth joint strategic air patrol since 2019. He declined to comment when asked if it was the first such patrol over the Bering Sea.

“NORAD will continue to monitor competitor activity near North America and meet presence with presence,” the command said in a news release.

A photo released by the Russian Defense Ministry showed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet escorting a Chinese bomber. Another photo posted online by the military channel of China’s state broadcaster CCTV showed Russian and Chinese long-winged bombers flying in parallel formation against mostly blue skies.–AP
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This interception came only hours after the Russian MOD reported early Wednesday that a Su-27 fighter jet was scrambled after a #British RC-135 and two Typhoon fighter jets of the Royal Air Force were said to be on the course to cross into Russian territory. Russia's MOD says the interception forced the British planes to make a U turn. (Last video)

Two joint Russian and Chinese naval exercises also ended recently, wrapping up on the 18th of July after 15 days of tactical drills, including live fire air and missile defense drills, traveling 4,800 nautical miles. Three Russian corvettes, two Chinese destroyers, three Chinese frigates, and an oiler from both nations were involved in the drills. The drills took place in the South China Sea, near the southern China city of Zhanjiang, and also south of South Korea’s Jeju Island before moving to the SCS.