In a bold move, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has announced that he will not be attending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to a joint session of Congress. Sanders referred to Netanyahu as a "war criminal" in a statement released on Saturday.

Expressing deep concern, Sanders stated, "It is a very sad day for our country that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been invited - by leaders from both parties - to address a joint meeting of the United States Congress." This statement comes after the official invitation was extended to Netanyahu on Friday, supported by signatures from both Republican and Democratic leaders in the House and Senate.

The invitation was initially put forth by Speaker Mike Johnson from Louisiana, who had made his intention clear in the past few weeks. There was some uncertainty regarding the stance of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer from New York, who had previously called for new elections in Israel during wartime to replace Netanyahu. However, Schumer eventually added his signature to the invitation.

Sanders reaffirmed his position on Netanyahu, stating, "Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal. He should not be invited to address a joint meeting of Congress. I certainly will not attend." The senator also acknowledged recent requests made by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for warrants against Netanyahu and other Israeli and Hamas leaders for alleged "war crimes."

Notably, Sanders, who is of Jewish heritage, has previously stated that he is no longer active in organized religion. However, his criticism towards Netanyahu appears to be rooted in his stance against human rights violations.

Reacting to the invitation, Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed excitement at the opportunity to address both houses of Congress, stating, "I am excited to represent Israel before both houses of Congress and to present the truth about our just war against those seeking our lives to the representatives of the American people and the entire world."

This address will mark the fourth occasion Netanyahu has spoken before both houses of Congress, making him the first head of state in the world to achieve this milestone.

President Joe Biden, on the other hand, recently endorsed a proposed ceasefire deal put forth by Israel, urging Hamas leaders to accept it. However, it remains unclear if Biden and Netanyahu share the same perspective. Netanyahu released a statement following Biden's remarks, affirming Israel's commitment to the elimination of Hamas' military and governmental capabilities, as well as the safe return of all hostages.

Netanyahu's office stated, "The exact outline proposed by Israel, including the conditional transition between the stages, allows Israel to maintain these principles."

As the date of Netanyahu's congressional address approaches, the dissatisfaction expressed by Senator Sanders adds a new layer of controversy to an already complex political situation. The debate surrounding Netanyahu's alleged war crimes and the path to peace in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to amplify on the international stage.