More than 200 anonymous staffers in 122 Democratic and Republican congressional offices signed a letter this week calling on Congress to protest or boycott Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech next week on Capitol Hill, citing concerns about Israel's ongoing war in Gaza. According to The Hill, a website specializing in congressional affairs, on Friday.

The letter, organized by the Progressive Congressional Staff Association and signed by 230 House and Senate staffers, said speaking out against Netanyahu's joint address to Congress on July 24 is a "moral issue" and not policy.

“Citizens, students and lawmakers across the country and the world have spoken out against Mr. Netanyahu’s actions in his war on Gaza,” the letter read. “Israelis have been protesting in the streets for months, denouncing his failure to negotiate a ceasefire and release the hostages. We hope you will join your fellow members of Congress in protesting his speech or rejecting his attendance.”

Some employees, most of whom are progressive, have repeatedly called for a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, including at a demonstration in October 2023 and another last May.

Several Democratic lawmakers have already announced they will protest Netanyahu's speech, which was organized after a call in May from top Democratic and Republican leaders in both chambers.

It is likely that most, if not all, of the roughly 100 members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus in the House and Senate will boycott the speech or protest it in some way.

Senator Bernie Sanders (R-Vermont), among the most vocal critics of the Israeli war on Gaza, earlier this month criticized leaders for inviting Netanyahu while more than 38,000 Palestinians were killed in the war that began on October 7, after the Hamas attack on Gaza envelope area. Israel killed about 1,200 people, including 311 soldiers, and held about 250 hostages, according to official Israeli statements. Sanders renewed his pledge not to participate in the meeting last month, describing the Israeli leader as a "war criminal."

Netanyahu will arrive in Washington next week to deliver a speech before Congress and will meet President Biden at the White House in his first visit since 2020.

The joint speech to Congress is the first by an Israeli prime minister since 2015, when 58 lawmakers boycotted him over concerns about his opposition to the Iranian nuclear deal that was being negotiated at the time between Tehran and then-President Obama.

Israel has faced widespread criticism over its nearly 10-month-long war in Gaza, where Palestinians struggle to access basic necessities of food and water and the United Nations does not consider them safe anywhere in the Strip from air strikes and other hostilities.

The Biden administration is working to reach an agreement to reach a ceasefire and free nearly 120 people still being held by Hamas in Gaza, and although recent statements have indicated progress, an agreement has not yet been announced.