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WASHINGTON — Today, following a bipartisan, bicameral invitation, Speaker Johnson hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the United States Capitol to address a joint session of Congress and provide an update on Israel’s just war for its survival. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Speaker Johnson renewed their pleas to release all the hostages held by Hamas – including eight American citizens.

Before Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address, he and Speaker Johnson delivered brief remarks from the Speaker’s office.

Click here to watch Speaker Johnson’s full remarks.

Read below for a transcript of Speaker Johnson’s remarks:

We are certainly happy to welcome our friend Benjamin Netanyahu, who is of course the Prime Minister of the state of Israel. This is a very important time.

Our bipartisan, Congressional leadership recognized it as such, and invited him here because our dear ally Israel is in an existential fight for its very existence, and that fight extends to every one of its borders.

Today, the Israeli people are working to defeat Hamas following the horrific massacre on October 7th.

They’re having to ward off Hezbollah in the North, they’re having to respond to Houthi attacks in Tel Aviv, and they fended off a historic watershed, direct attack from Iran, a regime allied with Russia and China.

The threats Israel faces are not only kinetic. Jerusalem is combatting lawfare, information wars, and double standards from the UN and the media.

Today, and every day, Americans must stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel in its great struggle.

But in this struggle, nearly 300 days after October 7th, our hearts are with the 120 men and women, boys and girls, who are still in captivity in Gaza.

Edan, Itay, Sagui, Hersh, Gadi, Judy, Omer, Keith, and so many others are being held deep in tunnels. We haven’t forgotten them or their families who so desperately want them home. And we of course do as well.

Israel and the United States are united in our mission to bring them home, and I have full confidence we will do just that.

I have to say, it’s providential that the Prime Minister is here today the day after the 17th of Tammuz.

It was nearly 2,000 years ago that the most powerful nation in the ancient world laid siege to Israel and destroyed Solomon’s Temple.

But today, the most powerful nation in the modern world is standing with our Jewish friends and the Israeli government.

I’m eager to hear from the Prime Minister, as we hope this 17th of Tammuz marks the last time the Jewish people lament destruction so they can live freely and securely in their ancestral homeland.