Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to give a significant speech to the US Congress on Wednesday amid pressure to quickly negotiate a ceasefire deal with Hamas in Gaza.
Netanyahu, the longest-serving Israeli prime minister, will be the first foreign leader to address a joint meeting of the two chambers four times, surpassing Winston Churchill of Britain who did it three times.
The Gaza war following the October 7 Hamas attacks has strained relations between Israel and the United States, its primary military and diplomatic supporter.
There are concerns in Washington about the escalating civilian casualties in Gaza, while protests in Israel by families of hostages held by Hamas are adding to Netanyahuâs challenges.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has indicated that negotiations are close to reaching a deal, with possible involvement from Qatar, Egypt, and the US. A proposed plan included a six-week ceasefire and a prisoner swap between Israel and Palestine.
Despite accusations from Hamas that Netanyahu is blocking a deal, Blinken is determined to finalize the agreement during Netanyahuâs visit to Washington.
A meeting between Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden is expected but not confirmed.
â Double pressure â
Israel has escalated its airstrikes on Gaza recently, with Netanyahu emphasizing that increased military pressure is necessary to secure the release of hostages and defeat Hamas.
Netanyahu told troops in Gaza that the dual pressure approach is not slowing down the deal but actually moving it forward.
The October 7 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,195 people, mostly civilians, as per AFP estimates based on Israeli data. Hamas seized 251 hostages, with 116 still in Gaza, including 42 believed to be dead by the Israeli military.
Israelâs retaliatory actions have led to the deaths of at least 38,919 people in Gaza, predominantly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory.
While publicly supporting Israel, Biden has expressed concerns about the offensive in Rafah and temporarily halted the delivery of heavy bombs. Supplies of 2,000-pound bombs remain restricted.
âThe current atmosphere is extremely tense,â commented Middle East specialist Steven Cook from the Council on Foreign Relations.
â âPolitical rhetoricâ â
Although US Republicans pushed for Netanyahu to address Congress, he has lost support among Democrats.
Senator Brian Schatz from Hawaii, a Democrat, announced his boycott of Wednesdayâs speech, citing it as mere âpolitical rhetoricâ that wonât contribute to peace in the region.
Netanyahu has vowed to present the truth about Israelâs fight against those seeking its destruction during his Congress appearance.
For his Washington trip, Netanyahu aims to demonstrate that he hasnât harmed US-Israel relations and wants to shift the focus from the Gaza conflict to the threat posed by Iran and its allies, according to Cook.
Speculation surrounds a possible meeting between Netanyahu and Donald Trump or a prominent figure linked to the Republican presidential candidate.
Despite the strained relations, the US continues to support Israelâs interests while actively participating in mediation efforts, maintaining a robust military relationship, officials reported.
US support could prove pivotal for Israel as it faces mounting international criticism over the humanitarian consequences of nearly 300 days of conflict.
In May, the International Criminal Court prosecutor sought arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as three Hamas leaders. The House of Representativesâ Republican majority has called for sanctions against the ICC.
The International Court of Justice declared Israelâs occupation of Palestinian territories illegal in July and issued a call in February to prevent genocide acts in the Gaza offensive.
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