Despite growing anger over his government’s human rights abuses in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli prime minister is expected to address Congress.

Top United States lawmakers have formally invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress, in the latest show of support for Israel amid its War against Gaza.

The invitation by Republican and Democratic leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives on Friday came as the International Criminal Court considers a arrest warrant for Netanyahu for alleged war crimes.

“To build on our enduring relationship and highlight America’s solidarity with Israel, we invite you to share the Israeli government’s vision to defend democracy, combat terrorism, and build a just and lasting peace in the region,” the letter said.

A date for the speech was not given.

It is my honor to invite Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress. pic.twitter.com/rYKx0Z1p93

— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) May 31, 2024

The letter was signed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

If Netanyahu accepts the invitation, he would surpass the late former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill as the foreign leader who has delivered the most speeches to a joint session of Congress.

Churchill – who led his country through World War II and helped defeat Nazi Germany – and Netanyahu each addressed Congress three times.

Netanyahu faces global outrage over Israel’s blatant human rights abuses in the Gaza Strip, where the Israeli military has killed more than 36,000 people and destroyed large parts of the territory.

Israel has also imposed a strict blockade of the Gaza Strip, making the area a on the brink of famine.

Netanyahu’s government defied its Western allies, including the United States, this month by launching a major Attack in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, where nearly 1.5 million Palestinians had sought refuge. The offensive displaced one million Palestinians.

An Israeli bombing of a camp for displaced people in Rafah earlier this month killed 45 Palestinians, sparking international outrage.

But the US Congress remains staunchly pro-Israel, even as some Democrats become increasingly critical of Netanyahu.

In March, Schumer called for new elections in Israel and described Netanyahu as Obstacle to peaceand referred to the Israeli Prime Minister’s opposition to the two-state solution.

The invitation to Congress on Friday sparked anger among Palestinian human rights activists. Actor Cynthia Nixon called it “shameful” in a social media post to Schumer.

“Maybe Netanyahu can be arrested in the Senate for his war crimes,” she wrote.

On Friday, US President Joe Biden outlined A proposal that, he said, would lead to a “permanent” ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The three-phase plan calls for the release of Israeli prisoners in the area as well as hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, Biden said.

The initiative, which Biden said was proposed by Israel, marks a change in position by the US administration, which had sought only a temporary ceasefire while supporting Israel’s goal of destroying Hamas.

“President Biden understands that it is good to prolong this war after his election won’t really work for him politically,” Palestinian-American analyst Omar Baddar told Al Jazeera.

“This is incredibly costly and damaging for him, and I think that’s why he’s now banging the table and putting enormous pressure on Israel to accept the ceasefire agreement.”