Speaking on CNBC's Squawk Box, Johnson stated, "I would love to have him come in and address a joint session of Congress. We'll certainly extend that invitation."

Although an official invitation has not yet been issued and no specific date has been set for the address, the gesture comes at a crucial time as the Israeli conflict with Gaza has sparked ongoing discussions on Capitol Hill about U.S. support for Israel.

Traditionally, there has been bipartisan support for Israel within Congress. However, in recent months, a divide has emerged among Democrats regarding U.S. policy towards Israel. A group of progressive lawmakers has called for a shift in focus towards humanitarian aid for civilians affected by the military operations in Gaza, urging the president to condition or restrict U.S. aid. Meanwhile, Israel has justified its operations, citing the need to defend itself following a devastating Hamas attack on October 7 that claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 people, with over 250 taken as hostages. The military campaign conducted by Israel in Gaza has tragically resulted in the deaths of over 30,000 people.

President Biden recently spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu, urging him to avoid military operations in Rafah, an area with over a million civilians at risk. While foreign leaders are regularly invited to address joint sessions of Congress, it is customary for the invitation to come from both the House speaker and the Senate majority leader. However, Johnson has yet to consult with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer about the invitation.

In response to Johnson's plans, Schumer released a statement emphasizing the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship, stating, "Israel has no stronger ally than the United States, and our relationship transcends any one president or any one Prime Minister. I will always welcome the opportunity for the Prime Minister of Israel to speak to Congress in a bipartisan way."

Coinciding with this development, Netanyahu recently addressed Senate Republicans virtually, upon an invitation from Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. This occurred just days after Schumer criticized Netanyahu's handling of the war and called for new elections in Israel once the conflict concludes.

McConnell, expressing support for Netanyahu, emphasized that he believed it was not the role of the United States to interfere in Israeli politics. He stated, "We obviously have a lot in common, but it seems to me the bipartisan support for Israel seems to be cracking on the political left in this country. I still think our best policy is to not give any democratic ally advice about when to have an election, who ought to run the government, or how to conduct the military campaign."

Responding to criticism and concerns of partisanship in inviting Netanyahu, Schumer asserted, "I care deeply about Israel and its long-term future. When you make the issue partisan, you hurt the cause of helping Israel."

Netanyahu's last address to a joint session of Congress occurred in 2015, upon an invitation from then-Speaker John Boehner. This invitation came at a time of strained relations between Netanyahu and President Obama, as the U.S. was working towards a nuclear agreement with Iran, which Israel opposed.

As Speaker Johnson moves forward with his plans to invite Netanyahu, the attention now turns to the future address and the potential impact it may have on shaping U.S. policy towards Israel and the ongoing debate within Congress.