Tension grows between U.S. and Israel

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office announced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address a joint session of Congress at 2 p.m. ET on July 24.

In response, several Democrats have announced they will skip the address.

“His extremist right-wing government needs to hear from the United States that we need peace in the region. Not escalating war,” said Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas.).

Congressman Casar said he will not attend Netanyahu’s speech next month. The Hill.com reported Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) are among the Democrats who will not be at Netanyahu’s speech.

“He should be making sure he gets the Israeli hostages home,” Casar said about Netanyahu.

At a press conference on Thursday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said he would attend Netanyahu’s address.

The address comes at a time of increasing strain in the relationship between the Biden administration and Netanyahu.

Earlier this week, Netanyahu released a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, criticizing the Biden administration for withholding weapon shipments to Israel.

“It’s inconceivable that the past few months, the administration has been withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel,” Netanyahu said.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the administration wasn’t aware Netanyahu would be releasing that video.

“It was vexing and disappointing to us,” Kirby said. “As much as it was incorrect.”

The Biden administration said in May it was delaying one shipment of heavy offensive weapons to Israel, over concerns they would be used in Rafah, a place with more than a million civilians.

Republicans meantime have emphasized their unwavering support for Israel in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks.

“Israel is our ally and she needs to be defended,” said Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.).

Israel said nearly 1,200 people died and 250 people were taken to Gaza as hostages because of Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack.

Since then, the Palestinian Health Ministry said more than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed.