(NewsNation) — Rep. Steven Cohen, D-Tenn., believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is putting a higher priority on his own career than saving the lives of those still being held by Hamas.
On Saturday, the bodies of six hostages were recovered in tunnels under Gaza. Protests erupted in Israel and around the world following the development, with desperate pleas to end the war and secure a cease-fire deal at the heart of the demonstrations.
Many have pointed to Netanyahu and his refusal to accept a deal as the reason for the tragedy, but the prime minister pushed back.
He publicly blamed Hamas and emphasized his goal of “total victory,” which many took as a sign that no deal will be reached anytime soon.
“Instead of being the Mr. Security he wants to be, or the Mr. Economy… He is actually being Mr. Abandonment. Everybody around is actually saying that he is the one to sabotage all the deals that President Biden and the American government are leading,” Efrat Machikawa, who had five family members taken hostage by Hamas, said on “NewsNation Now.”
That sabotage, Cohen believes, is due to selfishness.
“The fact is, Netanyahu is a lot like Trump. He has to win or he’ll probably go to jail, and he’s looking out for his own self-interest,” Cohen said, referencing a felony corruption case that has been sidelined as the Israel-Hamas war escalated.
Netanyahu faces myriad bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges, which could land him in prison eventually.
“I don’t really trust Netanyahu at all. He’s a politician who’s at risk for losing his liberty, and he will do anything,” Cohen added.
The congressman emphasized the need for “an end” to the war, including figuring out who will govern Gaza and how all families can heal.
“I don’t think that Israel can continue as a country with war coming on all sides, from Iran and Houthis and Hezbollah as well as Hamas. They need to get peace, and they need to have long-standing peace and protect the Israeli people,” he said.
