Washington, 24 July 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet this week with US President Joe Biden and the man seeking to succeed him, Republican nominee Donald Trump, at a fraught time in US politics.

Netanyahu is due in Washington to address a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, a rare honour for a foreign leader, amid heavy criticism of his handling of the war in Gaza from the Biden administration and top Democrats.

His visit comes after a series of political earthquakes in the US in recent days, included a failed assassination attempt on Trump and Biden's decision to end his bid for re-election and back Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination.

The White House said Netanyahu would meet with Biden on Thursday. Their talks were delayed by a Covid-19 infection the president had been recovering from.

Former president Trump is set to welcome Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Friday, after initial confusion over the timing of the reception.

"Looking forward to welcoming Bibi Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida," Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social on Tuesday.

Trump initially said the meeting would take place on Wednesday, before correcting it to Thursday. After the White House's announcement, Netanyahu's visit to Florida was then re-arranged for Friday.

Foreign policy on the agenda as Netanyahu visits US

Weeks of domestic political turmoil in the United States have distracted the country from foreign policy, but Netanyahu's visit is sure to draw attention back to the war in Gaza.

His address to Congress will focus on the conflict, with Netanyahu being accompanied on his visit by relatives of the hostages captured in the October 7 attacks led by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The families are hoping for a possible announcement from Netanyahu about a ceasefire and the release of hostages - of which less than 120 are believed to be alive in Gaza - in return for Palestinian prisoners. Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas has been deadlocked for months.

Meanwhile, Trump is also set to discuss the troubling global situation with Netanyahu in Florida.

"During my first term, we had Peace and Stability in the Region, even signing the historic Abraham Accords - And we will have it again," Trump wrote, referring to a series of normalization agreements between Israel and Arab states.

"Just as I have said in discussions with President Zelensky and other World Leaders in recent weeks, my PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH Agenda will demonstrate to the World that these horrible, deadly Wars, and violent Conflicts must end," he wrote.

Trump continued: "Millions are dying, and Kamala Harris is in no way capable of stopping it."