Netanyahu speaks to Congress amid political tensions in US and Israel over war in Gaza

(WASHINGTON) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday amid high tensions over U.S. support for Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza and tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians killed.

Netanyahu was invited to speak primarily by House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has been severely critical of President Joe Biden’s response to the war, including pausing a shipment of large unguided U.S. bombs due to concerns about civilian casualties. Republicans have pushed back, saying that pausing that shipment violates Israel’s right to defend itself.

The prime minister called Hamas’ terror attack on Oct. 7, 2023, “a day that will forever live in infamy,” comparing it to the attack on Pearl Harbor and 9/11.

Netanyahu’s speech came as the prime minister has so far rejected Biden’s proposal for a cease-fire that would free the hostages Hamas still holds — as part of a larger regional peace plan.

Netanyahu’s visit also comes amid domestic political turmoil for both him and Biden, and questions about how Biden’s new lame-duck status will affect his ability to make any progress on ending the fighting, given his already fraught relationship with the Israeli leader.

During his address, the prime minister praised Biden’s leadership and assistance in helping to return hostages.

“He rightly called Hamas sheer evil, [and sent] carriers to the Middle East to deter a wider war. And he came to Israel to stand with us during our darkest hour — a visit that will never be forgotten,” Netanyahu said.

Protesters occupied parts of the U.S. Capitol complex on Tuesday and again Wednesday ahead of the speech, and family members of some of the hostages have been given guest tickets to attend by Rep. Ilhan Omar, one of dozens of Democrats — including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sens. Dick Durbin and Patty Murray — who are boycotting the speech. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders also will not attend.

Johnson has threatened to have anyone who tries to disrupt the speech arrested.

U.S. Capitol Police claimed part of the crowd had “become violent” on Wednesday. The police said in a statement they had to take action after a crowd at First Street and Constitution Avenue NW “failed to obey our order to move back from our police line.”

“We are deploying pepper spray towards anyone trying to break the law and cross that line,” the police said roughly 20 minutes before the speech started.

The police later said five people in the House Gallery were removed when they allegedly disrupted the address.

Vice President Kamala Harris will not be sitting behind Netanyahu in the vice president’s chair as she customarily would in her capacity as president of the Senate, as she will be attending a campaign event in Indianapolis instead.

“The idea that they’re making political calculations when our ally is in such dire straits fighting for its very survival and fighting back against the horrific attack of Oct. 7 is unconscionable to us,” Johnson said Tuesday of Harris’ absence.

The White House said Harris and Biden will meet with Netanyahu separately on Thursday instead. Former President Donald Trump said he will meet with Netanyahu on Friday at Mar-a-Lago.

Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin, a stalwart Israel supporter who is retiring, will take Harris’ place on the House dais.

Large-scale anti-Israel protests in support of the Palestinian cause this past spring on college campuses and across the country dominated U.S. politics for months and forced Biden to modify his previous full-throated support for the U.S. ally.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer confirmed on the Senate floor Wednesday that he will be attending Netanyahu’s address. Netanyahu did not shake Schumer’s hand but thanked him for inviting him to Congress.

“Even though I disagree with many of Bibi Netanyahu’s policies, I will attend the speech because the United States relationship with Israel remains ironclad and transcends any prime minister or president, and we must do all we can to get our hostages home,” he said.

In March, Schumer called on Israel to hold new elections, saying at the time that he believed Netanyahu had “lost his way” and is an obstacle to peace in the region amid the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Netanyahu criticized Schumer at the time for his remarks.

New York Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler, a Netanyahu critic, will attend his speech, saying in a statement, “Out of respect for the State of Israel and the office of the Prime Minister, I plan to attend tomorrow’s joint address.”

Congress sent $26 billion in aid to Israel and provided humanitarian relief for people in Gaza in April as part of a foreign aid package.

About $4 billion of that was dedicated to replenishing Israel’s missile defense systems. More than $9 billion of the total went toward humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

Earlier Wednesday, Netanyahu attended a memorial service for Sen. Joe Lieberman, a longtime supporter of Israel, who died in March.

ABC News’ Mariam Khan and Lauren Peller contributed to this report.