House Republican leaders blasted Vice President Kamala Harris for missing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s joint address of Congress on Wednesday, accusing her of “boycotting” the speech.

In her role as Senate president, Harris would normally sit behind foreign leaders who address Congress. She will instead deliver the keynote address at a Zeta Phi Beta sorority event in Indianapolis, an appearance she scheduled before Netanyahu set the date for his speech.

Harris, the heavy favorite to be the Democratic presidential nominee after President Joe Biden announced Sunday he is dropping out of the race, will meet one-on-one with the Israeli prime minister Thursday.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., on Tuesday accused Harris of intentionally snubbing Netanyahu.

“Vice President Harris is boycotting tomorrow's speech by Prime Minister Netanyahu,” Scalise said during a news conference on Capitol Hill. “That's disgraceful. Why will she not come and show support for our greatest ally in the Middle East while they're at war from terrorist organizations funded by Iran?”

Said Johnson: “It is outrageous to me and inexcusable that … Kamala Harris is boycotting this joint session. This is an historic moment. It's an important moment for the country. … The gravity of the situation cannot be overstated. And yet, Kamala Harris will abandon her seat.”

Harris condemned Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attacks on Israel, which sparked the war between the two sides, and said she believes Israel has a right to defend itself. She also has called on Israel to do more to protect civilian lives in the Gaza Strip and to allow more humanitarian aid to reach civilians there.

An aide to the vice president told Spectrum News' Maddie Gannon that Harris has had "an unwavering commitment to the security of Israel" throughout her career and that her trip to Indianapolis "should not be interpreted as a change in her position with regard to Israel."

With Harris away, Senate Pro Tempore Patty Murray, D-Wash., is next in line to fill the seat behind Netanyahu, but she is among the lawmakers declining to attend. Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Ben Cardin, D-Md., will sit there instead.

Johnson also accused Murray of boycotting the speech. Murray’s office confirmed the senator will not attend. She issued a statement calling for a mutual ceasefire, adding “The United States' commitment to Israel’s security remains ironclad.”

Arguing that support for Israel is critical to stability in the Middle East, Johnson said, “There is no logical position for any American to say that they would not support Israel.”

Asked about Harris’ absence from Netanyahu’s speech, Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., told reporters Tuesday the vice president’s meeting with the Israeli leader Thursday “sends the message that Israel is an ally and that she is giving him an audience. And I think that that's completely appropriate.”

Separately, Biden is also scheduled to meet with Netanyahu on Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.