Amidst the ongoing conflict with Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on a visit to the United States. During this visit, he met with former President Donald Trump. After their discussions, Trump expressed that his relationship with Netanyahu has always been warm. Meanwhile, Netanyahu expressed hope that ceasefire talks in Gaza would progress.
Before meeting Trump, Netanyahu had already met with US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. To meet Trump, Netanyahu traveled to Trump's Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago. During this meeting, Trump congratulated Netanyahu and his wife Sara, while also criticizing Kamala Harris.
Whenever Trump has met with Israeli leaders following operations in Gaza, Kamala Harris has criticized those meetings. In his meeting with Netanyahu, Trump commented on Harris's criticism, stating, "I think her remarks were offensive." Netanyahu, on the other hand, showed optimism that his visit to the US would lead to a swift ceasefire agreement. Trump responded that only time would tell.
Speaking to the media, Trump dismissed any tension with Netanyahu, saying, "We have a very good relationship." He also highlighted decisions made during his presidency, such as moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and exiting the international nuclear deal with Iran.
Relations had slightly soured when Netanyahu congratulated Biden after his victory in the 2020 presidential elections. Trump has also criticized Israeli intelligence on multiple occasions, claiming it was the reason Hamas could launch an attack on October 7.
There is speculation that in the upcoming White House race, there will be a close contest between Kamala Harris and Trump. Due to this, global leaders like Netanyahu are trying to maintain balanced relations with both Biden and Trump.
Harris Had Said - I Will Not Be Silent
After meeting Netanyahu earlier this week, Kamala Harris clarified her stance on the Gaza war. She stated, "I have made my concerns about the grave humanitarian situation there clear. I will not be silent." She emphasized that while Israel has the right to defend itself, how it does so matters.
An Israeli official noted that Hamas should not misinterpret Harris's statement as a sign of growing distance between the US and Israel, as this could hinder ceasefire agreements.
On Wednesday, when Netanyahu addressed the US Congress, a dozen Democratic Party members boycotted the speech. In his address, Netanyahu praised Biden for supporting Israel. However, he also praised Trump for moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and highlighted the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates during Trump's tenure.
The Israel-Hamas War Has Been Ongoing Since October 7
The conflict between Israel and Hamas began on October 7 of the previous year. On this day, Hamas militants infiltrated Israel, killing 1,200 civilians and taking 250 hostages. Currently, 115 people are still in Hamas custody. Israel estimates that 14,000 Hamas fighters and their allies have been killed in the conflict.
