Top Israeli official meets with UK foreign secretary amid concerns over Gaza humanitarian situation
A top member of Israel’s war cabinet, Benny Gantz, met with Britain’s foreign secretary on Wednesday to discuss the growing concern from Israel’s allies about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the need for a pause in fighting.
Gantz, a former army chief and a political rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had just returned from closed-door meetings in Washington with top officials, including Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. During his trip to Washington, Gantz also met with Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan.
Before his meeting with Gantz, Britain’s foreign secretary, David Cameron, expressed strong words for Israel in a debate before the House of Lords. Cameron emphasized the need for Israel to increase aid reaching Gaza to address the “dreadful suffering” in the territory.
The high-level meetings in Washington have exposed deepening divisions among the leaders shepherding Israel’s war in Gaza, with Netanyahu and his right-wing allies feeling rankled by Gantz’s independent actions.
Despite belonging to different parties and often sitting on opposing sides of issues, Gantz joined Netanyahu’s emergency war cabinet after the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel. However, Netanyahu’s office stated that they did not approve Gantz’s travel to Washington, leading to criticism from far-right Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich.
In Washington, officials pressed Gantz for more support to enable humanitarian aid to reach Gaza and emphasized the need for a plan to protect civilians before Israel pushes into Rafah in the territory’s south. The State Department also urged Israel to open additional border crossings to facilitate the entry of supplies into Gaza.
The White House National Security Council spokesman, John Kirby, addressed questions about whether Gantz’s meetings were a snub to the Netanyahu government by stating that they were requested by Gantz and provided an opportunity to discuss how the U.S. is supporting Israel and the desired actions from the Israeli government.
The discussions between Gantz and international officials highlight the ongoing tensions and complexities surrounding the conflict in Gaza and the urgent need for humanitarian aid to reach those in need.
