Protesters gather outside Capitol, calling for a cease-fire in Gaza
Protesters are staging a sit-in on Pennsylvania Avenue near the Capitol ahead of Biden's speech -- demonstrating in support of the Palestinian civilians in Gaza suffering amid the Israel-Hamas war.
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Biden has faced heavy criticism from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and many in the Arab American community over his response to the conflict, in which he has sought to balance his sympathy for civilians with support for Israel's campaign after Hamas' October terror attack.
Nonetheless, many critics have called on him to more forcefully push for an immediate stop to all fighting as conditions remain dire for civilians in the Gaza Strip. Cease-fire advocates have interrupted other Biden events in the past few months, including an abortion rights campaign rally in January.
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Biden in his speech on Thursday night is expected to announce an "emergency" military mission to construct a pier in the Mediterranean Sea on Gaza's coast to get humanitarian aid into the area, according to senior officials.
Meanwhile, family members of Americans who thought to still be held by Hamas will be in the audience as guests of Republican lawmakers.