Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants the USA to quickly send military support to the country, and describes the war in Gaza as "a struggle between barbarism and civilization".
Therefore, the USA and Israel must stand united. And we will win, he said in a speech to the American Congress.
Netanyahu once again promised that "complete victory" will be achieved in the war, and emphasized the importance of the relatives of the hostages – some of whom were present in Congress – getting their loved ones back.
He then thanked USA's President Joe Biden.
President Biden and I have known each other for over 40 years. I want to thank him for half a century of friendship with Israel and for being, as he says, a proud Zionist, said Netanyahu.
He also thanked Biden for his "wholehearted" support after Hamas' terrorist attack on October 7.
The Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was also thanked for "all the things he did for Israel".
Netanyahu denied in his speech all allegations of war crimes against Palestinians, and launched a verbal attack on the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
He further attacked pro-Palestinian demonstrators in the USA, calling them "Iran's useful idiots", and criticized university leaders who allow student protests.
Wants to anchor support
Netanyahu's trip to the USA takes place during a period when the relationship between the two countries is strained due to Israel's warfare in Gaza. Before the visit, Netanyahu said that he "will strive to anchor the USA's support, which is so important for Israel".
Netanyahu will meet both the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and the Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris during his visit to the USA.
On Thursday, President Joe Biden is also expected to meet the Israeli leader. Biden says that he will, among other things, devote his last six months as president to ending the war in Gaza and bringing home the hostages.
Many seats empty
Several heavyweight Democrats, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, did not attend Netanyahu's speech in Congress. In total, over 50 Democratic seats were empty.
Vice President Kamala Harris did not attend the speech either, citing a previously scheduled meeting in Indiana.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered near the Capitol during the day, demanding that the USA stop all support to Israel and that the war in Gaza be ended.
The police used pepper spray against demonstrators who marched towards the Congress building. Some demonstrators became "violent" and "refused to obey orders", according to the police in a post on X. Several have been arrested.
