Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders said on Tuesday that he is will not attend the speech of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to a joint session of Congress.

The Israeli leader accepted the invitation on Monday to speak to lawmakers in both chambers, which was extended by all four Congressional leaders. The date for the speech has not been confirmed so far, but it is expected to occur in the next eight weeks. It will be the first time an Israeli leader has spoken to Congress since 2015.

Sanders, who has been a vocal critic of Netanyahu and the Israeli military over the war with Hamas, lashed out at House Speaker Mike Johnson, who led the invitation. He also said he disagreed with the Democratic leadership in both chambers that also extended the invitation, according to NBC News.

“What Mr. Johnson is going to have to explain to the American people is why he thinks it’s okay to invite somebody to a joint session who is responsible for the deaths of some 38,000 Palestinians at this point, 60% of whom are women and children, [and] elderly people,” Sanders told the outlet.

The exact death toll in Palestine is not clear, but the United Nations estimated that at least 36,000 Palestinians had been killed in the war as of May 31, based on reports from the Gaza Ministry of Health. 

Sanders admitted that although he will not attend the speech in person, he might listen to it. Sanders also noted that his boycott is because speaking in front of a joint session of Congress should be an honor, not for someone who "has acted in such a horrific way."

Other senators have also raised their concerns about the speech, including concerns that it would be a political address that would further divide the United States over the conflict. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin said he would not have extended the invitation until Israel agreed to a two-state solution.

“The fear I have is that it would be politically divisive, it would not help Israel,” Durbin told NBC. “I’m waiting for clarity on the two-state solution, I think that is a central part of our strategy and I’m waiting for him to commit to it.”

Democratic Sens. Peter Welch from Vermont, and Jeff Merkley from Oregon, said they disagree with inviting Netanyahu to give a speech, but Welch said he has not decided whether he would attend the speech. But Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, said he would listen to Netanyahu because he will "always listen to foreign leaders." 

“I reserve the right to be surprised,” Murphy said, “But my sense is that his appearance here may be more about trying to buoy his political standing back home than actually trying to effectuate peace or improve the relationship between the United States and Israel.”

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.