Israel's Netanyahu says 'thrilled' to address US Congress

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on June 1 he was “thrilled” to accept an invitation to address the US Congress, where he plans to “present the truth” about the Gaza war.

Democratic and Republican leaders had

invited Mr Netanyahu to speak

before a joint meeting of Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson said on May 31.

In a statement issued by his office, Mr Netanyahu said: “I am thrilled by the privilege to represent Israel before both houses of Congress and to present the truth about our just war against those who are looking to take our lives.”

No date has been announced for Mr Netanyahu’s address, but US media reported that it is expected to take place just before or soon after US lawmakers’ August recess.

US President Joe Biden said on May 31 that

Israel had offered a new roadmap towards a ceasefire

in its war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

The war was sparked by

Hamas’ unprecedented Oct 7 attack on southern Israel,

which resulted in the deaths of 1,189 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Militants also took 252 hostages, 121 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the army says are dead.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 36,379 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.

The May 31 announcement was the first invitation for Mr Netanyahu, who had appeared before Congress in the past, to do so since he began his latest term as prime minister in late 2022.

The premier has yet to be invited to the White House since then.

Before the Gaza war broke out, tensions between the close allies had risen over Mr Netanyahu’s controversial judicial reform plan that triggered

a wave of protests against his government.

Mr Biden said in 2023 he was “very concerned” over the proposed reforms. AFP