TEHRAN- President Joe Biden is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House amid global outcry over Washington’s unwavering military support for the Tel Aviv regime’s genocidal war on Gaza.

According to Netanyahu’s office, the meeting will be held on Tuesday. The Israeli premier will also address Congress on Wednesday during his visit to the United States.   

Netanyahu, known as Bibi, is under immense pressure to end the Gaza war which has claimed the lives of about 39,000 Palestinians since Israel declared war on the besieged territory on October 7. 

The Israeli prime minister has vowed to continue the war until “destroying” Hamas in defiance of growing international calls to stop his killing machine in Gaza. 

Israel launched the onslaught soon after Hamas carried out a surprise military operation in southern Israel. 

More than 1,100 people were killed during Operation Al-Aqsa Storm and about 250 Israelis and foreigners were taken captive. 

Over 100 captives were released following a truce deal between Israel and Hamas in November last year. But dozens still remain in captivity in Gaza. 

Protests against Israel’s war on Gaza have become a regular occurrence across the world. Demonstrators demand that Israel stop its war and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza which is on the verge of famine. 

Israelis have also held regular protests calling for a ceasefire with Hamas and the release of the remaining captives. 

Meanwhile, protesters in the US have accused the White House of complicity in the Gaza massacres by providing huge amounts of military weapons to Israel.

The US remains the largest supplier of weapons to Israel providing the regime with nearly $4 billion in military aid annually. Since the eruption of the Gaza war in October,

Washington has approved additional military aid to Israel worth tens of billions of dollars despite mounting civilian casualties in the territory.  

Hence, Netanyahu’s visit to the US will be eclipsed by Israel’s brutal carnage in Gaza. 

Diplomatic maneuvering

Netanyahu is accused of prolonging the war to keep himself in power. So, he will come up with schemes during his Washington trip to divert attention away from his warmongering approach in Gaza and paper over his army’s failures in the battlefield. 

About 290 days have passed since the start of the Gaza war, but Israel has not only failed to eliminate Hamas but its forces have been dealt humiliating blows at the hands of resistance fighters. 

As a result, Netanyahu will resort to blame game and propaganda in his meeting with Biden and during his speech in Congress. 

He will try to demonize Hamas and other regional resistance groups to rally support for his brutal onslaught in Gaza. 

Hamas has said it will stop attacks on Israeli forces if the regime ends the war and withdraws from Gaza. Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Yemen’s Ansarullah and resistance groups in Iraq have also announced they will end strikes against Israel if the Netanyahu regime brings a halt to the war of genocide in Gaza. They have carried out military operations against Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.  

Besides, he will try to promote Iranophobia in an attempt to justify Israel’s military adventurism in West Asia. 

However, it is crystal clear that his plots will fall flat. 

Over the past months, Israeli officials have tried to smear UN organizations for criticizing the regime amid the Gaza war. But such moves have only deepened Israel’s international isolation. 

In May, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan pulled out a paper shredder at the podium of the General Assembly and shredded a copy of the UN Charter. He wanted to vent his anger at the assembly’s resolution in support of Palestinian membership. His measure sparked strong global backlash. 

Netanyahu may construct a similar scenario when he delivers a speech in Congress. But, prior to his presence in Congress calls are growing for boycotting his speech. 

Senator Brian Schatz has said he will not attend Netanyahu’s speech in Congress on July 24.

“As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I welcome a substantive discussion about the future, not political rhetoric that will do nothing to bring peace in the region. I therefore will not attend Wednesday’s address,” the Jewish Democrat from Hawaii said. 

Schatz has joined several high-profile Democrats, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, and independent Senator Bernie Sanders in boycotting Bibi’s speech. 

But opposition to Netanyahu’s address in Congress is just the tip of the iceberg against the backdrop of the embattled leader’s international isolation. 

Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), has already requested an arrest warrant for Netanyahu for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. 

Israel also stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. 

Hence, Netanyahu, who has butchered women and children in Gaza, has pinned his hopes on a public relations stunt in Congress.

Nonetheless, the world is now aware of Netanyahu’s duplicitous nature and his attempts to manipulate public opinion with a shallow PR stunt.