Israel’s embattled prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, will address a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday, an event already drawing throngs of protesters and spotlighting the sharp divide between Republicans and Democrats in their approach to one of America’s closest allies amid a devastating war in Gaza. A divisive political figure before the conflict began, Netanyahu faces deepening dissent at home, where two-thirds of Israelis want him to leave office. In the Gaza Strip, his right-wing government is approaching 10 months of war, with a death toll of more than 39,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, and facing widespread criticism over the humanitarian disaster the conflict has unleashed. Netanyahu’s address is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be streamed live here.
