Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has once again shed light on one of the most controversial incidents in the shared military and political history between Washington and Tel Aviv. During an official speech in the US House of Representatives, Massie called for a comprehensive investigation into the Israeli military's attack on the American ship 'USS Liberty' during the 1967 war.
The House chamber witnessed a notable presence of 12 survivors of the incident, who watched from the gallery as the congressman delivered his speech, keen to honor them and acknowledge their heroism. Massie called for breaking the decades-long silence, emphasizing that the time has come to do justice to the victims and their families and to uncover the facts that have been obscured for too long.
The roots of the incident date back to June 8, 1967, when the US Navy destroyer was subjected to a violent air and sea attack in international waters off the Egyptian coast. This assault, carried out by Israeli fighter jets and torpedo boats, resulted in the deaths of 34 crew members and injuries to more than 170 others in a bloody toll.
Congressman Massie asserted in his argument that the ship was on a technical surveillance mission to monitor the results of the Six-Day War and was not carrying any combat weapons for self-defense. He also pointed out that the American flag was clearly flying above the ship's mast, refuting the hypothesis of mistaken identity that the official Israeli narrative adhered to.
Describing the details of the attack, Massie explained that 'Mirage' aircraft launched raids that lasted about 25 minutes, using missiles and 30mm machine guns. The attackers did not stop there but also dropped incendiary napalm bombs on the ship's command bridge to ensure it was completely disabled.
The congressman conveyed horrific testimonies from survivors, stating that Israeli forces directly targeted lifeboats that the crew tried to launch to escape the burning ship. Machine gun fire also struck firefighters who were trying to extinguish fires on the deck, an indication that reinforces the hypothesis of criminal intent in the attack.
Thomas Massie is known for his critical stances on the nature of US-Israeli relations and foreign military funding within the halls of Congress. He has previously opposed several bills aimed at enhancing military integration with Israel, preferring to focus on direct American national interests and transparent accountability.
This move has sparked mixed reactions, with Massie facing accusations of anti-Semitism from some parties, while others considered it a courageous step towards uncovering the truth. The 'Liberty' ship file remains an open wound in the memory of the US Navy, with survivors insisting that the incident was deliberate and not merely a technical error.
The attack was clearly aimed at annihilating everyone on board the ship, as the Israelis targeted lifeboats and firefighters with machine guns.
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US Congressman Demands Investigation into Israeli Attack on USS 'Liberty' After 59 Years