On Monday, US Vice President Kamala Harris and Israeli War Cabinet member Benny Gantz will meet at the White House as Washington seeks to agree on a temporary ceasefire and increase the flow of aid to Gaza.
Gantz, a centrist political rival who joined Netanyahu's wartime Cabinet following Hamas' October 7 attack, is traveling at a time when tensions between the US and Netanyahu are growing over how to ease the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and what the postwar plan for the enclave should look like.
Kamala Harris, Benny Gantz to Meet in Washington
According to Reuters, a White House official said that the discussions cover a range of issues, including reducing Palestinian civilian casualties, reaching a temporary ceasefire, the release of hostages held in Gaza, and increasing aid to the territory.
The official noted that Harris would express her concern over the safety of the 1.5 million people in Rafah and added that Israel had the right to defend itself in the face of continued Hamas terrorist threats.
A statement from Gantz confirmed that he would speak with Harris, as well as with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Republican and Democratic members of US Congress.
"Minister Gantz personally updated the prime minister on his initiative on Friday of his intention to travel to coordinate the messages to be transmitted in the meetings," the statement said.
Media sources reported that Netanyahu delivered a stern rebuke on a phone call with Gantz during the weekend, ordering officials with the Israeli embassy in Washington not to join the former defense for his meetings.
According to a prime minister cited by multiple media outlets, Netanyahu made it clear to Gantz that the State of Israel only has one prime minister.
Furthermore, the White House said that Harris "will reiterate civilian casualties must be reduced" and that the two would discuss a political future for the Palestinian people. US officials have not yet responded about the internal differences tested by this visit and whether the Biden administration was trying to send a message by arranging for high-ranking officials to meet with Gantz.
The minister's visit comes as the president is reported to be feeling increasingly frustrated with Netanyahu over his handling of the Israeli military's assault on Gaza, where Israeli strikes and famine killed staggering numbers of civilians.
Gantz has refrained from openly discussing his most recent dispute with his political rival.
Gaza Ceasefire Expected Next Week
According to Gaza health authorities, international pressure for a ceasefire has increased, with over 30,000 Palestinians killed in Israel's Gaza offensive. The UN has also warned that a quarter of the population is on the verge of famine.
The US and other countries expect aid to be boosted by a temporary ceasefire, which Biden hoped on Friday would occur by the time of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which starts on March 10.
On Saturday, two Egyptian security officials stated that the discussions about the Gaza truce will resume in Cairo on Sunday. However, an Israeli news source reported that Israel would not send a delegation until it has a complete list of Israeli hostages who are still alive.
