Netanyahu seeks to bolster US support with Congress speech

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington DC on Monday afternoon, as confirmed by the Israeli Embassy. He is set to address a joint session of the US Congress in an effort to strengthen support for Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip. This invitation was extended by Mike Johnson, the Republican Speaker of the House, who aims to demonstrate unwavering support for Israel. However, several Democratic lawmakers have announced their intention to boycott the address due to concerns over the substantial US military assistance to Israel, especially in light of the significant number of Palestinian casualties. Netanyahu's visit to the US marks his first since the onset of the conflict with Hamas, which has been ongoing for nearly ten months. Following his address to Congress on Wednesday, he is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris, as well as hold a separate meeting with former President Donald Trump, who expressed his eagerness to welcome Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Netanyahu has stated that he intends to 'present the truth about our just war' during his speech, highlighting the challenges he faces both internationally and domestically regarding his management of the ongoing conflict. His trip to the US coincides with a recent ruling from the International Court of Justice, which Israel has dismissed. Pro-Palestinian protests are anticipated during his visit, and Speaker Johnson has cautioned that any protests within the House chamber could lead to arrests. On Tuesday, approximately 200 Jewish American peace activists staged a protest in the Capitol building complex against Netanyahu's speech, wearing red T-shirts that read 'Not in our name' and 'Jews say stop arming Israel. ' Additionally, families of Israeli hostages gathered in anticipation of Netanyahu's address to Congress. Netanyahu's visit comes at a time when his relationship with the US has become increasingly strained, particularly among prominent Democrats. President Biden is facing mounting political pressure from the left wing of his party to take a stronger stance in urging Israel to limit its military actions in Gaza, especially as the death toll continues to rise. Vice-President Harris will not preside over the Senate during Netanyahu's address, further indicating the tensions surrounding this visit. At least nine senators have publicly announced their plans to skip the event, including Illinois Senator Dick Durban, who expressed his support for Israel but stated he could not stand and cheer for Netanyahu's current leadership. Senator Bernie Sanders also declared he would not attend, condemning the 'total war' being waged by Netanyahu's government in Gaza. He emphasized that Netanyahu's policies in Gaza and the West Bank, along with his refusal to endorse a two-state solution, should be strongly criticized. Netanyahu last addressed Congress in March 2015, during a time of heightened tensions. Israel initiated a military campaign in Gaza to dismantle Hamas in response to a violent incident that resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 others. Since then, the health ministry in Gaza has reported that over 39,000 individuals have lost their lives, although these figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The offensive continues, and the World Health Organization has expressed deep concern about the potential for a health crisis in Gaza after traces of dangerous substances were discovered in the wastewater.