2024-03-03 07:52:30
3/3/2024-|Last update: 3/3/2024 10:58 AM (Mecca time)
A White House official said that US Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz tomorrow, Monday, to discuss developments in the war on the Gaza Strip, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Israeli embassy in Washington not to provide services to Gantz or his entourage.
The American CBS News network quoted an unnamed White House official as saying, “The meeting between Harris and Gantz on Monday is part of our ongoing efforts with Israeli officials regarding the Gaza war and planning for the next stage,” without specifying the location of the meeting.
The official added that during the meeting, Harris will highlight concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza and the situation in Rafah, in addition to securing a temporary ceasefire, releasing Israeli detainees in Gaza, and increasing aid to the Strip.
Gantz will also meet with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Republican and Democratic members of Congress.
Netanyahu got angry
Gantz headed to Washington at dawn on Sunday, and is expected to go to London after that to hold a series of meetings, without coordination with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent instructions to the Israeli embassy in Washington, according to which he ordered not to provide services to Benny Gantz, Minister in the War Council and leader of the State Camp party, or his companions during his visit to the United States that begins today, Sunday.
Israeli Army Radio – which reported the news – added that those close to Gantz arranged the visit independently and without seeking help from the embassy in Washington.
Netanyahu and those close to him had previously accused Gantz of arranging travel to the United States to meet with senior officials without coordinating with the Prime Minister in accordance with the internal regulations and without obtaining prior permission from him.
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper revealed that those close to Netanyahu confirmed the prime minister’s anger at Gantz’s behavior, noting that Netanyahu explained to Gantz that Israel has only one prime minister.
Those close to Gantz responded that Netanyahu was informed of the matter as required by regulations.
Tensions raged between the two sides following previous accusations by Netanyahu of Gantz of circumventing the Prime Minister, communicating with the Americans behind him, and coordinating positions with the administration regarding the war and prisoner exchange deals.
Gantz – who was a military commander and defense minister – is the main political competitor in opinion polls to Netanyahu, who is under criticism from US President Joe Biden.
Armistice talks
The newspaper indicated that Gantz’s visit comes at an important time related to discussions regarding concluding a new prisoner exchange deal between the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel.
International pressure has increased for a ceasefire in Gaza. The Palestinian authorities said that the number of Palestinian martyrs since the beginning of the aggression on the Strip on October 7 has exceeded 30,000. The United Nations also warned that about a quarter of the Strip’s population has become one step away. From famine.
The United States and other countries expect to increase aid to Gaza after a temporary ceasefire, which Biden said the day before Friday that he hopes will happen by the month of Ramadan.
Two Egyptian security sources said that truce talks in Gaza are scheduled to resume in Cairo on Sunday, but an Israeli news media outlet said that “Israel will not send its delegation to the Egyptian capital before it obtains a complete list of the Israeli hostages who are still alive.”
The two Egyptian sources added that the delegation of Hamas and Israel is expected to arrive in Cairo today.
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