The Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog has been instructed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office not to participate in a meeting in D.C. today. Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz, who is a Netanyahu rival but has taken part in his war cabinet. This decision comes after Harris called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza over the weekend and urged Israel to do more amid the humanitarian crisis in the region. The U.S. recently carried out its first airdrop of aid into Gaza, highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian assistance.
Despite the typical involvement of the Israeli ambassador in such meetings, Netanyahu's office has directed the ambassador not to participate in any discussions that Gantz will be having in Washington this week. This move is seen as a sign of disapproval from Netanyahu regarding Gantz's visit to the U.S. Gantz is scheduled to meet with Vice President Harris, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit.
The U.S. government has been pressuring Israel to increase efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, where people are facing dire conditions. Vice President Harris emphasized the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, advocating for a temporary six-week truce to facilitate the delivery of aid and ensure the safety of hostages. She stressed the importance of Hamas agreeing to the proposed ceasefire deal to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza.
