Hakeem Jeffries, other US leaders invite Prime Minister Netanyahu

Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries and other top United States legislators invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress despite mounting criticisms levelled against the Israel leader.

“To build on our enduring relationship and to highlight America’s solidarity with Israel, we invite you to share the Israeli government’s vision for defending democracy, combatting terror, and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,” a letter to Netanyahu stated.

Netanyahu’s invitation was publicised by US House Speaker Mike Johnson, who shared a letter written to the Israeli Prime Minister on X (formerly known as Twitter).

It was signed by Johnson, Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumar and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.

The invitation to address the US Congress comes as Netanyahu faces global outrage over Israel’s apparent abuses in Gaza, where the Israeli military has killed more than 36,000 people and destroyed large parts of the territory, Al Jazeera reported.

Israel has also imposed a strict blockade in Gaza, bringing the territory to the verge of famine.

Al Jazeera further reported that Netanyahu’s government defied its Western allies, including the United States, this month by launching a major assault in Rafah in southern Gaza, where nearly 1.5 million Palestinians had been sheltering. The offensive has displaced one million Palestinians.

For its part, Guyana has been against the violence unfolding in Gaza.

Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Carolyn Rodrigues- Birkett, on Wednesday flagged the “blatant disregard” of the rule of law following Israeli airstrikes in Rafah, where displaced Palestinians were seeking refuge.

Ambassador Rodrigues- Birkett flagged the clear disregard of international law, as she addressed a United Nations Security Council meeting. She reminded the Council that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued three sets of provisional measures to quell the violence and protect human life.

The Permanent Representative added, “Indeed, two days had not yet passed following the last order by the Court for Israel to halt military operations in Rafah, when the attack in Tal al-Sultan took place. The Council must seriously consider how to address this blatant disregard for the rule of law.”