The four congressional leaders formally extended an invitation on Friday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress after months of delay. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who acted as a driving force to get Mr. Netanyahu to Washington, announced that a letter inviting the longtime Israeli leader had been sent. No date, however, was included on when Mr. Netanyahu, consumed with a war in the Gaza Strip with Hamas in the aftermath of the deadly Oct. 7 attack, would address lawmakers. 

The letter, signed by Mr. Johnson, Louisiana Republican; Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat; Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican; and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, New York Democrat, noted that the last time an Israeli official spoke to both chambers of Congress was just three months before Hamas’ deadly attack last fall.

News of the invitation comes after President Biden urged a cease-fire in the war on Friday. He argued that Hamas was no longer capable of carrying out a large-scale attack on Israel and presented a three-phase cease-fire agreement that he pressed both sides to agree to. Tensions have been building between Mr. Biden and Mr. Netanyahu over the course of the conflict in Gaza, with mounting global criticism of Israel as Palestinian civilian deaths have mounted. 

“To build on our enduring relationship and to highlight America’s solidarity with Israel, we invite you to share the Israeli government’s vision for defending democracy, combating terror and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,” the lawmakers wrote. 

In order to invite Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Schumer needed to sign on to the letter. Mr. Johnson accused the top Senate Democrat of dragging his feet to add his signature, asserting that the invitation had been gathering dust on Mr. Schumer’s desk since March. 

The invitation comes at a time of division among lawmakers on how they view Israel’s handling of its war against Hamas. Mr. Schumer, in particular, has a chilly relationship with Mr. Netanyahu after he called for new elections to replace him and his government over concerns of increasing civilian casualties in Gaza.

• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.