News - Middle East: When Benjamin Netanyahu arrives on Capitol Hill to address a joint meeting of US Congress, he will face empty rows of seats left by Democratic representatives who demand an end to the Biden administration’s support for Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza.

The July 24 event, which is also expected to draw crowds of angry protesters in Washington, will be boycotted by approximately 80 House Democrats and at least six Democratic senators, CNN reported citing sources and public statements.

This has prompted Speaker Mike Johnson to threaten that he will have anyone who causes a disturbance on the floor or in the gallery above arrested.

Among those who will boycott Netanyahu’s address is Democratic congressman Jamaal Bowman, who said he was outraged as "a genocidal war criminal will address Congress."

Netanyahu’s joint address, he said, is directly undermining the will of the overwhelming majority of Americans who want peace.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democrat of New York, said she would not be attending the speech for the simple reason that she thinks Netanyahu is a “war criminal.”

So does Democrat of Michigan and the sole Palestinian American in Congress Representative Rashida Tlaib. She said, “It is utterly disgraceful that leaders from both parties have invited him to address Congress.”