Israel’s Netanyahu travels to Washington after Biden drops out of presidential race and war with Hamas continues

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left for a planned visit to Washington on Monday, a day after President Biden announced he would do not walk for a second term and amid Israel’s ongoing War with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Before his departure, Netanyahu said Israel would remain an important US ally in the Middle East, regardless of who the next president becomes.

“At this time of war and uncertainty, it is important that Israel’s enemies know that America and Israel stand together today, tomorrow and always,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

The Israeli president is scheduled to address both houses of the US Congress on Wednesday and also speak privately with Mr Biden. The meeting is tentatively scheduled for mid- to late-week, depending on the president’s recovery from a Covid-19 infection The White House announced this on Wednesday.

“This will be an opportunity to thank him for the things he did for Israel in the war and during his long and distinguished career in public service, as a senator, as vice president and as president,” Netanyahu said. “It will also be an opportunity to discuss with him how we can advance in the critical months ahead the goals that are important to both our countries: the release of all our hostages, the defeat of Hamas, the confrontation with the terrorist axis of the Iran and its proxiesand ensure that all Israeli citizens return safely to their homes in the north and the south.”

During his visit this week, Netanyahu is also expected to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Netanyahu’s visit comes after months of growing tensions with Washington over the way Israel is using its Offensive in the Gaza Strip after the unprecedented terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7.

His invitation to address a joint session of Congress was orchestrated by the House Republican leadership, which accuses Mr Biden of not showing enough support to Israel in its war with Hamas, a Hamas attack that killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took about 240 people hostage.

New protests against US support for the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip were expected in Washington on Wednesday, the day of Netanyahu’s speech to Congress. According to health authorities in the Hamas-controlled area, more than 39,000 Palestinians have been killed in the offensive.

His visit comes immediately after the publication of an advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice in The Hague on Friday declaring the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories illegal.

Netanyahu is under increasing pressure from the US to strike a deal that would see the release of the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza in exchange for a halt to the fighting. There are also regular protests in Israel demanding a hostage deal.

“Part of the goal (of the trip) is to show that despite everything that has been said, despite all the protests, Netanyahu is still the leader, still has support and still has good relations with America,” Yonatan Freeman, an international relations specialist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, told Reuters.

On Monday, the Israeli military called on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to evacuate parts of the area declared a humanitarian zone. It warned of increased military operations because there was “precise intelligence indicating that Hamas has entrenched a terrorist infrastructure in the area designated as a humanitarian zone.”

The announcement was followed by heavy bombardment in areas around the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said at least 49 people were killed in the attacks, including women and children, and nearly 190 others were injured.