Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left Monday for a planned visit to Washington, a day after President Biden announced he do not run for a second term and in the midst of Israel’s ongoing civil war war with hamas In the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu said before leaving office that Israel would remain a key U.S. ally in the Middle East, regardless of who the next president is.
“In this time of war and uncertainty, it is important that Israel’s enemies know that America and Israel stand together today, tomorrow and always,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
The Israeli leader is due to address both houses of the US Congress on Wednesday and hold private talks with Mr Biden in a meeting tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, but that will depend on the president’s recovery from an outbreak. Covid-19 infection This was announced by the White House on Wednesday.
“This will be an opportunity to thank him for what he did for Israel during the war and during his long and distinguished career in public service, as a senator, vice president and president,” Netanyahu said. “It will also be an opportunity to discuss with him how to advance, in the critical months ahead, the goals that are important to both our countries: securing the release of all our hostages, defeating Hamas, confronting the terrorist axis of Iraq and the Levant,” he added. Iran and its proxiesand to ensure that all Israeli citizens return safely to their homes, in the north and the south.
Netanyahu’s visit comes after months of growing tensions with Washington over how Israel has conducted its military operations. Gaza offensive after the unprecedented terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7.
His invitation to address a joint session of Congress was arranged by the Republican leadership of the House of Representatives, which accuses Mr. Biden of not supporting Israel enough in its war against Hamas. About 1,200 people were killed in Israel in the Hamas attack, and some 240 people were taken hostage.
New protests against US support for Israel’s offensive in Gaza, which has killed nearly 39,000 Palestinians according to health officials in the Hamas-controlled territory, were expected in Washington on Wednesday, the day Netanyahu addresses Congress.
His visit comes a day after the International Court of Justice in The Hague issued an opinion on Friday, which ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories was illegal.
Netanyahu is facing increasing pressure from the United States to reach a deal that would allow the release of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza in exchange for a halt to the fighting. Protests have also been held regularly in Israel demanding a deal on the hostage release.
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“Part of the goal [of the trip] “It’s to try to show that with all that’s been said, with all the protests, Netanyahu is still the leader, he still has support, he still has strong relations with America,” Yonatan Freeman, an international relations expert at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, told Reuters.
On Monday, the Israeli military ordered Palestinians in Gaza to evacuate parts of an area that had been designated a humanitarian zone, warning of an intensification of military operations due to “specific intelligence indicating that Hamas has established a terrorist infrastructure in the area designated as a humanitarian zone.”
The announcement was followed by heavy shelling in areas around the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said at least 37 people had been killed, including women and children.
