US Congress invites Israeli PM Netanyahu to speak amid ICC warrant controversy and Gaza crisis
Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will soon address the US Congress. PM Netanyahu, who has an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him, will address US lawmakers in the Congress on July 24. He has received an invitation from Republican and Democratic leaders, reports AFP.
Invitation to Netanyahu
News of this potential visit comes amidst calls for a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and as Israel faces increasing international diplomatic isolation over the high casualty figures in Gaza.
It also follows a rare and critical call from Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in March for Israel to hold new elections, criticising the country's management of the Gaza conflict. Progressive Democrats have also voiced strong disapproval of Netanyahu's handling of the military response and have vowed to boycott his speech.
The invitation to Netanyahu was reportedly extended by the four party leaders in the US House and Senate, who expressed solidarity with Israel in its "struggle against terror, especially as Hamas continues to hold American and Israeli citizens captive."
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
While US media was speculating a visit date of June 13, Netanyahu's office has clarified that this date is not final and conflicts with a Jewish holiday.
Calls for ceasefire
Just last week, US President Biden proposed a three-phase plan that seeks to end the conflict, secure the release of all hostages, and reconstruct Gaza without Hamas in control.
However, Netanyahu's office, as per AFP, reiterated that military operations will continue until Israel's "goals" including the destruction of Hamas, "are achieved". Hamas has not responded to this plan.
Efforts for a truce and a hostage-prisoner exchange between the two warring sides are being mediated by US, Qatari, and Egyptian officials. At the same time, Israel is facing increased diplomatic pushback.
This includes international court cases accusing it of war crimes and recognition of Palestinian statehood by several European nations. In May, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan even sought an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
However, in support of Netanyahu and Israel, recently, on June 4 (Tuesday) the Republican-led US House of Representatives passed legislation that seeks to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC). This bill and the subsequent sanctions are in response to the ICC prosecutor's decision to pursue arrest warrants for Israeli officials related to the ongoing war in Gaza.
(With inputs from agencies)
