Netanyahu set to surpass Churchill in address to US Congress for 4th time

ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to deliver a landmark speech to the US Congress this week as he fights off intense pressure to cut a Gaza war ceasefire deal with Hamas.

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Israel's longest-serving premier will on Wednesday become the first foreign leader to address a joint meeting of the two chambers four times - pulling ahead of Britain's Winston Churchill on three.

But analysts said the Gaza has created worrying tensions between Israel and the United States, its main military and diplomatic backer. Netanyauhu's office announced that he will meet US President Joe Biden on Tuesday.

Washington fears a backlash from the mounting civilian toll in the Gaza Strip, while protests in Israel by families of hostages taken by Hamas are also causing headaches for Netanyahu. Biden and some Israeli ministers said a deal negotiated through Qatar, Egyptian and US mediators is possible. A plan outlined in May proposed a six-week ceasefire when some Israeli hostages would be swapped for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.