Member of Israel’s War Cabinet meets with British Foreign Secretary
A top member of Israel’s war cabinet was due to meet with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron on Wednesday, as Israel’s allies, including the United States, expressed serious concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the need for a pause in emphasize the struggle.
Benny Gantz, a former army chief and a top political rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, visits London a day after holding closed-door meetings in Washington with a host of officials and political leaders, including Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of State Foreign Affairs. Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. During his trip to Washington, Mr Gantz also met with Vice President Kamala Harris – who urged a pause in the war – and Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s national security adviser.
Mr Cameron had strong words for Israel before his meeting with Mr Gantz. In a debate before the House of Lords On Tuesday, Mr. Cameron said he planned to make clear to Mr. Gantz that Israel needed to do more to increase aid to Gaza to address the “terrible suffering” in the area.
“Patience must be running out, and a whole series of warnings must be issued” to Israel, he said. “Israel is the occupying power, and it is responsible.”
The high-level meetings in Washington confused Netanyahu and his right-wing allies, deepening divisions among the leaders leading Israel’s war in Gaza.
Mr Netanyahu’s office has said it has not approved Mr Gantz’s trip to Washington. Bezalel Smotrich, the Minister of Finance, said further Knesset TV on Monday that it was “a shame” his trip had not been coordinated with the prime minister, adding: “We must show unity and speak with one voice to the whole world.”
In Washington, Mr. Austin asked for Mr. Gantz’s support to allow more humanitarian aid to reach Gaza’s increasingly desperate residents and stressed the need for a plan to protect civilians before Israel pushes into Rafah, on the southern side of Gaza, the Pentagon said in a summary of the meeting. Mr. Blinken stressed to Mr. Gantz the importance of quickly reaching an agreement on the release of hostages and a lull in the fighting, and urged Israel to open additional crossings to slow the flow of supplies into the area facilitate, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
John Kirby, the White House National Security Council spokesman, responded to a reporter’s question about whether Mr. Gantz’s meetings were “a snuff to the Netanyahu government” by saying they were requested by Mr. Gantz.
“It was a good opportunity to have a discussion with the War Cabinet about the way we support Israel and the things we want to see Israel do,” Mr Kirby said.
Adam Sella reporting contributed.