Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will deliver a landmark speech to the US Congress on Wednesday, aiming to rally support amid tensions between Israel and its key military ally over the Gaza offensive.
Washington has increasingly criticized the rising civilian toll from more than nine months of conflict in the narrow coastal territory. Meanwhile, protests in Israel by families of hostages taken by Hamas are creating additional challenges for Netanyahu at home.
Netanyahu’s visit coincides with political turmoil in the United States, including an assassination attempt on Republican candidate Donald Trump and President Joe Biden withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race to endorse his deputy, Kamala Harris.
Before leaving Israel on Monday, Netanyahu stated his intention to “solidify the bipartisan support that is crucial for Israel” during his address to Congress.
“I will remind my friends on both sides of the aisle that regardless of who the American people elect as their next president, Israel remains America’s indispensable and strong ally in the Middle East,” he said in a statement.
Biden will meet with Netanyahu on Thursday, while Harris will hold separate talks with the Israeli leader but will not attend his speech due to prior travel commitments.
Netanyahu will also meet with Trump in Florida on Friday, with whom he had a less contentious relationship compared to Biden’s administration.
On Wednesday, Netanyahu will become the first foreign leader to address a joint meeting of the two chambers four times, surpassing Britain’s Winston Churchill.
House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized the importance of standing with Israel, especially as it faces attacks from various Iranian proxies, saying, “It has never been more important than now to support our closest ally in the Middle East.”
However, Netanyahu has lost support among some liberal lawmakers. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders said on Tuesday, “Netanyahu should not be welcomed into the US Congress.”
“His policies in Gaza and the West Bank and his refusal to support a two-state solution should be condemned,” Sanders posted on social media, adding that he would not attend the speech.
Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin also announced he would not attend. “I will stand by Israel, but I will not stand and cheer its current prime minister,” he stated.
Highlighting the opposition, at least 200 people protested against Netanyahu’s speech at a building in the US Capitol complex on Tuesday, leading to arrests and area clearance by Capitol police.
Israel has recently intensified its attacks on Gaza, resulting in over 39,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Netanyahu has maintained that increased military pressure is necessary to free hostages and defeat Hamas, which launched a surprise attack on October 7, killing 1,197 people, mostly civilians, based on Israeli figures.
Hamas fighters also captured 251 hostages, with 116 still in Gaza, including 44 that the Israeli military believes are dead.
Israel’s retaliatory campaign in Gaza has killed at least 39,090 people, mostly civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry.
While publicly voicing strong support for Israel, Biden has expressed concerns over the offensive on Rafah and suspended a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel to prevent their use in populated areas.
Despite the tensions, the US has continued to defend Israeli interests and play a key role in mediation efforts, with the military relationship between the two countries remaining strong, according to officials.
Steven Cook, a Middle East specialist at the Council on Foreign Relations, noted that the relationship has never been more strained. “There is clearly tension between the White House and the Israeli prime minister,” Cook said.
