Netanyahu tells joint session of US Congress Israel 'will win' Gaza war

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the Israel-Hamas war as a "clash between barbarism and civilisation" in an address to the United States Congress as over a thousand demonstrators protested outside the US Capitol against Israeli military operations in Gaza.

"This is a fight between those glorify death and those who sanctify life," the Israeli PMtold the US Congress in an address boycotted by top Democrats but euphorically welcomed by the Republicans.

Netanyahu appealed for his country and the United States to stand together in a landmark speech aimed at rallying support in a US Congress split over his military campaign in Gaza.

"For the forces of civilisation to triumph, America and Israel must stand together," the Israeli PMsaid, after arriving to applause and cheers from Republicans and a much more muted reception from Democrats.

Iran is "virtually behind all the terrorism" in the Middle East, Netanyahu claimedand saidthe US is the "guardian of western civilization" that stands in the way of Iran's "maniacal plans".

The Israeli leader then takesmembers of the US Congress through the history of Iran and its relationship with the US since 1979, and says that Tehran "understands that to truly challenge America, it must first conquer the Middle East" by using "its many proxies, including the Houthis, Hezbollah and Hamas".

Netanyahu said Israel is standing in the way of Iran's ambitions in the region.

"When we fight Iran, we’re fighting the most radical and murderous enemy of the United States of America," he said.

Netanyahu said Israel is committed to returning its citizens to northern Israel and it would "prefer to achieve this diplomatically".

But Israel "will do whatever it must do to restore security to our northern border and return our people safely to their homes”, he said.

Netanyahu said that Israel will achieve "total victory" against Hamasand that it will settle for "nothing less".

Total victory, Netanyahu said, means that Israel will fight until it destroys Hamas’ military capability, ends its rule in Gaza, and frees all the hostages from the Palestinian militant group'scaptivity.

Netanyahu, while referring to the post-war Gaza said, that his vision for the blockaded Palestinian enclave is that of a "demilitarised and de-radicalized Gaza."

"Israel does not seek to settle Gaza. But for the foreseeable future, we must retain overriding security control there to prevent the resurgence of terror, to ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel," the Israeli PMsaid.

(With inputs from agencies)