Amidst mounting pressure for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address lawmakers in the US Congress on July 24. The visit comes as international criticism of Israel’s military response in Gaza intensifies, with civil society groups advocating for an end to the violence.
President Joe Biden’s recent proposal of a three-phase peace plan, aimed at ending the conflict, has been met with mixed reactions. Netanyahu’s office maintains that the war will continue until Israel’s goals, including the destruction of Hamas, are achieved. However, Hamas has not yet responded to the plan.
Despite expressions of solidarity with Israel, some progressive Democrats have condemned Netanyahu’s handling of the situation and vowed to boycott his speech. The visit comes amidst ongoing efforts by US, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators to secure a truce and hostage swap.
The conflict was sparked by Hamas attacks on Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Militants have also taken 251 hostages, 120 of whom remain in Gaza, including 41 the army alleges are dead. Israel’s retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 36,654 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
International pressure on Israel has mounted, with international court cases accusing it of war crimes and several European countries recognizing a Palestinian state. The US media reported that Netanyahu had agreed to visit on June 13, but his office later clarified that the date had not been finalized due to a conflict with a Jewish holiday.
