Gantz continues his meetings in Washington and is surprised by the Biden administration's criticism and frustration with Israel

Gantz (right) was surprised in Washington by the amount of American criticism and frustration with Israel (French)

Minister in the Israeli war government, Benny Gantz, continues his meetings in Washington despite the attack on him by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies. Yesterday, Tuesday, he met with US Secretary of State and Defense Anthony Blinken and Lloyd Austin, who stressed the need to take urgent steps regarding the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

Axios quoted American officials as saying that Gantz was informed during his talks in Washington of the extent of President Joe Biden's administration's frustration with the Israeli government.

During his meeting with Gantz, Blinken stressed the need for Israel to take urgent steps to expand the scope of delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid, including by opening additional crossings.

The US State Department said that Blinken stressed to Gantz during his meeting at the US State Department headquarters the need for a credible and implementable humanitarian plan before any major military operation in Rafah.

Blinken also stressed that Washington supports steps aimed at promoting lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

For its part, the US Department of Defense (the Pentagon) announced that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed, during his meeting with Gantz, his deep concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

A Pentagon official said that the meeting was not scheduled in advance and that it was arranged suddenly.

The Pentagon spokesman said that Gantz met with Austin and did not present any plans for a military operation in Rafah.

Axios quoted American officials as saying that Gantz was informed during his talks in Washington of the extent of President Joe Biden's administration's frustration with the Israeli government.

Meanwhile, Israeli officials said that Gantz was surprised during his talks by the intensity of the criticism of Israel and the extent of the distance with the United States.

Axios reported, citing American officials, that the aid convoy disaster in Gaza was a turning point for the Biden administration, adding that during his meeting with US Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Gantz faced severe criticism and difficult questions regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the Israeli war strategy.

Gantz said that during his meetings in Washington with the US Vice President and the National Security Advisor, he stressed the importance of completing “the mission of eliminating the threat posed by Hamas.”

He added that he discussed finding a solution to transfer humanitarian aid in a way that reaches the population and not Hamas.

Gantz indicated that he stressed the necessity of achieving all the goals of the Israeli military operation in Gaza, which would provide a better future for the entire region, as he put it.

He also stressed the importance of working to establish an international administration in cooperation with the countries of the region and as part of enhancing the normalization process.

Gantz said that he assured Harris of his ultimate commitment to the return of Israeli prisoners, thanking the United States for the great pressure it is exerting.

National Security Council officials watered down parts of Kamala Harris' speech on Gaza, NBC reported, citing US officials.

NBC said Harris's original draft of her speech was harsher toward Israel over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Demonstrations outside the White House during Gantz's meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris (French)

Israeli attack

Gantz's visit to the United States continues to raise more reactions, criticisms, and accusations inside Israel, as the Prime Minister's Office demanded that he not provide any assistance in organizing this visit.

In this context, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich expressed his regret that Gantz traveled to Washington on his own without coordination with Netanyahu.

Smotrich said that the only Israeli response to returning the detainees must be to return to a very intense war and actually enter Rafah instead of just talking, according to him.

Smotrich stressed that pressure on Hamas, especially during the month of Ramadan, will make it kneel and return the detainees, according to his claim.

For his part, former Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman renewed his criticism of the Netanyahu government, describing it as lacking the right to exist, as he put it.

Lieberman added in an interview with Israeli Channel 12 that the government is causing frustration and that the motives of the people participating in it are political, according to him.

Last Monday, Gantz began a visit to Washington to meet with American officials and discuss a “temporary ceasefire” and “the need for a significant increase” in humanitarian aid to Gaza, according to a White House official.

Gantz is a minister without portfolio and a former defense minister, and a former rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and his National Union party (center) leads by a large margin in voting intentions, at a time when the Israeli coalition government appears more fragile.

The Wall Street Journal quoted an informed official as saying that Gantz informed Netanyahu of his visit to Washington after setting the agenda, and that Netanyahu was surprised by Gantz’s visit and was extremely angry.

She stressed that Gantz's visit to Washington reflects a sharp division in the Israeli political leadership.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had directed the Israeli embassy in Washington not to provide services to the minister in the War Council, leader of the State Camp party, Benny Gantz, or to accompany him on his visit to the United States, which he begins today.

Israeli Army Radio, which reported the news, reported 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.

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.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been waging a devastating war on the besieged Gaza Strip, which has left tens of thousands of civilians martyred and wounded, most of them children and women, in addition to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe and massive infrastructure destruction.

Source: Al Jazeera