Netanyahu seeks to bolster US support with Congress speech

WASHINGTON,  US 

Israel's prime minister will address a joint session of the US Congress in a bid to bolster support for his war in the Gaza Strip.

Benjamin Netanyahu was invited by the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, whose Republican Party is trying to show unflinching support for Israel.

But several Democratic lawmakers plan to boycott the address in protest at the huge numbers of Palestinians killed by Israel's offensive.

Mr Netanyahu arrived in the US on Monday. After addressing Congress on Wednesday, he will meet President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris, then have a separate meeting with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

"Looking forward to welcoming Bibi Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida," Mr Trump said in a post on Truth Social, using a common nickname for the Israeli prime minister.

Mr Netanyahu has said he would "present the truth about our just war" during his address to Congress, in what is his first trip to the US since the conflict with Hamas began.

Israel's PM faces growing international and domestic pressure over his handling of the war, which started nearly 10 months ago.

In May, International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan applied for an arrest warrant against Mr Netanyahu for alleged "war crimes".

And this month, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories was "illegal", a conclusion Israel rejects.

Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters are also expected to descend on Washington for a "day of rage".

Speaker Johnson has warned against protests inside the House of Representatives chamber, saying there would be arrests "if we have to do it".

On Tuesday, about 200 Jewish American peace activists held a protest in the Capitol building complex.

Police eventually removed the protesters, who all wore red T-shirts proclaiming "Not in our name" and "Jews say stop arming Israel".

Mr Netanyahu's Washington visit comes as his relationship with the US has grown tense, especially among leading Democrats.