US and Israeli Leaders Set To Discuss Gaza Crisis in July’s Washington Meeting
US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are likely to meet in Washington in late July, coinciding with Netanyahu’s scheduled address to the US Congress on July 24, a White House official disclosed on Tuesday. The Israeli leader’s speech to a joint session of the House and Senate comes amid his nation’s ongoing conflict in Gaza, a topic that continues to draw significant global attention and controversy.
The expected meeting between Biden and Netanyahu, first reported by CNN, is yet to have confirmed logistical details, though it is anticipated to take place at the White House. This high-profile rendezvous underscores the continuing robust alliance between the US and Israel, despite some strains over Israel’s military tactics in Gaza.
President Biden has occasionally voiced reservations about the intensity of Israeli military actions, including labeling the bombing campaign in Gaza as indiscriminate and describing other military responses as “over the top.” In a significant April phone call following the deaths of aid workers, Biden pressed Netanyahu for increased measures to protect civilian lives, hinting at potential shifts in US policy if sufficient changes are not observed.
The Republican criticism of Biden’s approach, calling for heightened US backing of Israel, contrasts with mounting international disapproval of both Israeli military actions and the US’s support thereof. The war has claimed nearly 38,000 lives, according to Gaza’s health ministry, and has sparked accusations of genocide, which Israel vehemently denies.
