Israel's Netanyahu accepts invitation to address US Congress

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted an invitation from the leaders of both parties in the US Congress to address the House of Representatives, his office said on Saturday evening.

The Israeli leader is excited about the privilege of presenting the truth of Israel's just war in Gaza to the representatives of the American people and the entire world, the statement said.

It said the war is directed against those who want to kill Israelis.

The statement comes after Republican chairman of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, published a letter to Netanyahu that was also signed by the Republican minority leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, as well as the top Democrats in both chambers, Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer.

The letter does not specify a date for the speech.

Johnson earlier publicly announced his plans to invite Netanyahu.

The invitation comes amid major divisions in US society over the war in Gaza, and Netanyahu's appearance could lead to further political upheaval ahead of the presidential election scheduled for November.

Netanyahu would be the world's first head of state to address both chambers of Congress for the fourth time, his office said.