WASHINGTON: Israeli leader Benjamin Netan­yahu will address lawmakers in the US Congress on July 24, Republican party leaders announced on Thursday.

The visit comes amid mounting pressure for the US ally and Hamas to agree to a permanent ceasefire as Israel faces growing diplomatic isolation over the rising death toll in Gaza.

President Joe Biden last week presented what he called an Israeli three-phase plan that would end the conflict, free all Israeli prisoners and lead to the reconstruction of the devastated Palestinian territory without Hamas in power.

But Netanyahu’s office stressed that the war sparked by the October 7 raids would continue until Israel’s “goals are achieved,” including the destruction of Hamas, which has not given its response to the plan.

The four top party leaders in the US House and Senate from both sides asked Netanyahu last week to speak before a joint meeting of Congress in a letter voicing solidarity with Israel “in your struggle against terror’’.

Netanyahu’s visit “symbolises the US and Israel’s enduring relationship and will offer... Netanyahu the opportunity to share the Israeli government’s vision for defending their democracy, combating terror, and establishing just and lasting peace in the region”, House Speaker Mike Johnson and top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell said in a statement.

Earlier, the proposal to invite Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress was reviled by key Democrats. Two-time presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders and former House speaker Nancy Pelosi were among a host of lawmakers who had opposed the idea of the Israeli leader addressing Congress.

Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has killed at least 36,654 people, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry.

US media had earlier reported that Netanyahu had agreed to visit on June 13, but his office told Israeli media the date had “not been finalised” and would not be on that date because it interferes with a Jewish holiday.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2024