Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address US Congresss in a joint meeting on July 24. He will do so while continuing his war in Gaza in which he has already killed nearly 37,000 Palestinians since October 7.

“I am pleased to announce that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will address a joint meeting of Congress on July 24,” said the announcement, made by the speaker of the federal House of Representatives, Michael Johnsonand the leader of the Republicans in the Senate, Mitch McConnell.

“We look forward to hearing the Israeli government’s vision for defending democracy, combating terrorism, and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,” Johnson and Mitchell’s joint statement further stated. They want to hear Israel’s version, being their priority partner, but so far they have not spoken with the Palestinian leaders.

Last Friday, the leadership of the United States Congress invited Netanyahu to give a speech before both Houses to talk about the “defense of democracy” and the “combat against terrorism”“.

Letter from Republicans and Democrats

The Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives They sent Netanyahu a letter in which they asked him to intervene in Congress to present the Israeli Government’s vision on how to “establish a just and lasting peace in the region.”

The letter was signed by Johnson, as well as the leader of the Democratic majority of the Senate, Chuck Schumer, as well as the also Democrat Hakeem Jeffries, leader of his caucus in the Lower House, and McConnell.

Netanyahu to speak before divided Congress and amidst criticism that the US Executive has received from civil society and human rights organizations for his unconditional support for Israel in its war against Gaza, which has claimed the lives of thousands of people.

For his part, Schumer, the highest-ranking Jew in the United States, recalled that he has “clear and deep disagreements with the prime ministerwhich I have expressed both privately and publicly and will continue to do so.” But, – he added – “because the United States’ relationship with Israel is ironclad and transcends a single person or the prime minister, it joined the request for him to speak.”