A US politician held up a sign that said “war criminal” on one side and “guilty of genocide” on the other during Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress.

Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat and a Palestinian-American, has been one of the Israeli Prime Minister’s most strident critics.

She (below) has relatives in the West Bank and represents a district in Michigan with many Palestinians.

(Image: AP)

Netanyahu’s controversial appearance in Washington DC on Wednesday sparked boycotts by some top Democrats and drew thousands of protesters to the Capitol to condemn the war in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis that it has created.

Nine months into the war in Gaza, Netanyahu vowed in his speech to press on with the war until “total victory”, disappointing hopes by some that the Israeli leader’s visit to the United States could bring some breakthrough in negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release.

Speaking to applause from some US politicians, and stony silence from others, Netanyahu sought to bolster US support for his country’s fight against Hamas and other Iran-backed armed groups.

“America and Israel must stand together,” he said, opening his speech to one of several standing ovations.

“When we stand together, something really simple happens: we win, they lose,” said Netanyahu, who wore a yellow pin that marks solidarity with the Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

But the Israeli leader soon pivoted to a darker tone as he derided those protesting the war on college campuses and elsewhere in the US, gesturing to demonstrations happening on the streets outside the Capitol.

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He called American protesters of the war as “useful idiots” of Iran.

He drew shouts of applause from many in Congress, but also silence from leading Democrats who declined to stand and cheer.

Tall steel barriers ringed the Capitol on Wednesday and police deployed pepper spray as thousands of protesters rallied near the Capitol, also denouncing Netanyahu as a “war criminal” and calling for a ceasefire.

Netanyahu received a warm welcome from House speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican officials who arranged for his speech to happen.

“Today and every day, America must stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel,” Johnson said shortly before the Israeli prime minister began speaking.

Noa Argamani, an Israeli hostage who was freed in a rescue mission in Gaza, was in attendance.

The appearance makes Netanyahu the first foreign leader to address a joint meeting of Congress four times, surpassing Winston Churchill, who was referenced by Netanyahu.

More than 50 Democrats and political independent Bernie Sanders boycotted Netanyahu’s speech.

The most notable absence was right behind him: Vice President Kamala Harris, who serves as president of the Senate, said a long-scheduled trip kept her from attending.

The next Democrat in line, Patty Murray of Washington, declined to attend, so Ben Cardin, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, served as “senator pro tempore” in place of her.

Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden and Harris on Thursday, and with former president Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday.

The United States is Israel’s most important ally, arms supplier and source of military aid.

Netanyahu’s visit is his first abroad since the war started, and comes under the shadow of arrest warrants sought against him by the International Criminal Court over alleged Israel war crimes against Palestinians.

The United States does not recognise the ICC.

The Biden administration says it wants to see Netanyahu focus his visit on helping it complete a deal for a ceasefire and hostage release.

Growing numbers of Israelis accuse Netanyahu of prolonging the war in order to avoid a likely fall from power whenever the conflict ends.