Nancy Pelosi calls for Netanyahu to resign as she slams his ‘terrible’ actions in Gaza

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign, the most high-profile Democrat to do so over his “terrible” actions in Gaza.

“We recognize Israel’s right to protect itself. We reject the policy and the practice of Netanyahu — terrible. What could be worse than what he has done in response?” Pelosi told Ireland’snational broadcaster RTE, during a visit to the country on Monday.

She noted this week’s resignation of Israel’s intelligence chief, MajorGeneral Aharon Haliva, over the failure to prevent the 7 October attack by militant group Hamas. Of Mr Netanyahu, she then added: “He should resign. He’s ultimately responsible.”

The Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October killed 1,139 people including 764 civilians and saw at least 248 taken hostage. Israel’s subsequent offensive in Gaza has claimed more than 30,000 lives.

The former speaker joins a growing chorus of Democrats arguing thatNetanyahu presents a personal obstacle to peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and should step down. His right-wing coalition government has supported settler movements involved in violent clashes with Palestinians in the West Bank.

Pelosi was asked by interviewer Áine Lawlor if Netanyahu was a direct obstacle to the peace process. She responded: “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.”

In early April, the ex-speaker signed a letter with dozens of other Democrats calling on the Biden administration to halt the transfers of weapons to Israel until an investigation into the killing of seven aid workers by Israel’s military was completed.

However this weekend, she voted for Congress’