Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu separately met with U.S. President Joe Biden and likely Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House on Thursday to discuss the Gaza conflict and the possibility of securing a ceasefire agreement.

Netanyahu's first White House visit since 2020 came a day after he gave a fiery speech to Congress amid increasing pressure in Israel and recent protests in Washington by thousands condemning the Gaza conflict and his visit.

Harris said in remarks after what she called a "frank and constructive meeting" with the Israeli leader that she supports Israel's right to defend itself, but said, "how it does so matters."

She expressed concern over the "devastating" humanitarian situation in Gaza and images of civilians killed in the conflict, saying, "We cannot look away in the face of these tragedies."

The vice president supported Biden's call for a swift ceasefire to end the fighting, at least for a time, to boost humanitarian aid to Gaza and release some of the most vulnerable hostages from Hamas captivity.

White House officials report that the negotiations are nearing completion, though some issues still need to be addressed, according to the Associated Press.

The AP report noted that a U.S.-backed plan to release the remaining hostages in Gaza in three phases would serve as a significant legacy for Biden, who has withdrawn from the reelection race and endorsed Harris. This plan could also benefit Harris in her effort to succeed him.

Following their talks, Biden and Netanyahu met with the families of American hostages.

In Netanyahu's speech to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, he offered a robust defense of Israel's conduct during the war and lashed out against accusations by the International Criminal Court of Israeli war crimes.

Netanyahu derided protesters who massed near the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, calling them Iran's "useful idiots."

Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Thursday criticized the U.S. Congress for hosting Netanyahu and applauding his speech amid ongoing Israeli actions against Palestinians.

Kanaani made the remarks on social media platform X, reacting to Netanyahu's visit and his address to the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, where Netanyahu pledged to achieve "total victory" against Hamas and labeled Americans opposing Israel's military operation in Gaza as "idiots." Netanyahu's speech received applause and a standing ovation from some Congress members.

Kanaani lamented that while Palestinians were being killed every day by Israel, the U.S. government and Congress welcomed the Israeli prime minister with "cheering and applauding despite all such crimes."

He said that by welcoming Netanyahu into the U.S. Congress, the West's efforts to portray itself as "innocent and humanitarian" were failing, exposing what he described as the "violent and devilish face" of U.S. policies.

Kanaani criticized U.S. and European leaders for what he called their hypocritical human rights slogans, stressing that Palestinians' rights to life, security, food, medicine and treatment were being "trampled in the most heinous form in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank before the world's fully open eyes."

(With input from agencies)