Welcome to the news hour.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the war in Gaza today in a speech to a joint meeting of Congress

amid protests and partisan politics that led dozens of Democrats to boycott the speech.

Netanyahu disparaged protesters who clashed with police outside the U.S. Capitol

and blamed Hamas for the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed in Israel's nine-month

war in Gaza since the October 7th terrorist attack. Nick Schifrin reports.

His Excellency, Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel.

No other foreign leader has delivered as many congressional addresses or received as much

state of the union style applause, but no other invited foreign leader has also driven such division.

Outside Congress today, protesters burned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in effigy.

And spray-painted Hamas is coming.

At one point, police pepper-sprayed demonstrators after they became violent.

Dozens of Democrats boycotted and some attending did not stand. But Republican lawmakers and many Democrats

showered their support as Netanyahu portrayed Iran as a mutual enemy.

When Israel acts to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons

nuclear weapons that could destroy Israel and threaten every American city,

every city that you come from.

We're not only protecting ourselves, we're protecting you.

As Israeli soldiers continue to battle Hamas fighters, Netanyahu has resisted endorsing a plan for the day

after the war. Today he reiterated a vision that U.S. officials have previously described

as unrealistic.

Gaza should have a civilian administration. previously described as unrealistic.

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