Israeli PM Netanyahu accepts invitation to address U.S. Congress

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Saturday that he accepted the invitation to address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress in Washington.

In a statement, the Israeli prime minister said he plans to speak to both Houses of Congress and "present the truth" about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Israeli prime minister received the invitation in a letter signed by the leaders of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on Friday.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported that Netanyahu's speech in Washington is expected to take place within the next eight weeks.

In a separate statement, Netanyahu said that "Israel's conditions for ending the war have not changed: the destruction of Hamas' military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel. Under the proposal, Israel will continue to insist these conditions are met before a permanent cease-fire is put in place."

A huge demonstration in Israel on Saturday night, led by families of hostages held by Hamas, urged the government to act now. Mediators from the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar pressed Israel and Hamas, saying the proposed deal "offers a road map for a permanent cease-fire and ending the crisis" and gives immediate relief to both hostages and Gaza residents, AP reports. 

But far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir said they would break up the government if it takes the deal. That could expose Netanyahu to new elections, scrutiny over security failures that led to the war and, if he loses the prime minister post, prosecution on longstanding corruption charges, the AP report said.

Meanwhile, Qatar, the United States, and Egypt have jointly called on Hamas and Israel to finalize an agreement based on the principles of a U.S. proposal, according to a statement from the Qatari foreign ministry on Saturday.

The three countries jointly call on both Hamas and Israel to do so "as mediators in the ongoing discussions to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages and detainees."

"These principles brought the demands of all parties together in a deal that serves multiple interests and will bring immediate relief both to the long-suffering people of Gaza as well as the long-suffering hostages and their families," the statement said.

The Palestinian leadership on Saturday emphasized the necessity for the Israeli army to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and open and hand over all border crossings of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority.

In a statement published by the Palestinian News Agency, the leadership said opening and handing over the crossings would enable the regular arrival of relief aid and all necessities for the population in Gaza.

The leadership emphasized the necessity of immediately and permanently stopping the Israeli conflict in Gaza and all lands of the State of Palestine, including stopping the "assaults" by army forces and settlers on Palestinians and holy sites in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

It considered that peace, security, and stability can only be achieved through a political solution based on international legitimacy, ending the Israeli occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty on the 1967 borders, including East Jerusalem.

(With input from agencies)