Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s war cabinet, met David Cameron, Britain’s foreign secretary, in London on Wednesday, he got a sharp message that Israel must do more to allow humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza.
Gantz is a former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces and a popular political rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Mr. Netanyahu expressed deep displeasure at what he viewed as an unsanctioned trip by a would-be Israeli leader.
In the meeting, Mr. Cameron said in a statement, he and Mr. Gantz discussed efforts to pause the fighting, and Mr. Cameron urged him to increase aid. While he said that Britain supports Israel’s right to self-defense, “as the occupying power in Gaza, Israel has a legal responsibility to ensure aid is available for civilians.”
Mr. Gantz also met with Britain’s national security adviser, Tim Barrow, a session that was joined by Mr. Sunak, according to a readout from Mr. Gantz’s office.
Giving Mr. Gantz these meetings also sends a message to Mr. Netanyahu. The prime minister has frustrated officials in London and Washington with his refusal to pause the military campaign or agree on terms for a hostage deal with Hamas, not to mention his dismissal of a future peace accord with the Palestinians.
Before stopping in London, Mr. Gantz visited Washington, where he met on Monday with Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and the national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, but not — as some Israeli journalists speculated beforehand — with President Biden.
Mr. Sunak later clarified that there had been no change in British policy, which is to pursue a two-state solution to the conflict. The United States also favors a Palestinian state that would result from a negotiated settlement with Israel.
Mr. Indyk, the former ambassador, said the Knesset vote enabled Mr. Netanyahu to say to the Biden administration that there is “wall-to-wall opposition to a Palestinian state, on the basis of something the administration had no intention of doing.”
@V0lunteerBoarsTranshumanist2mos2MO
I am a non-Jewish man who had two best men at my wedding, both of whom were Jewish. They are to this day still my best friends. I am absolutely repulsed by Israel’s refusal to let aid into Gaza, resulting in needless deaths of innocent children and infants. It’s beyond the pale. I will never, EVER be anti-Semitic in my life, but I’m rapidly becoming anti-Zionist due to Israel’s inability to wield power and a responsible and ethical manner. If they’re losing me, they’ve got a huge problem on their hands.
@ResilientDovesRepublican2mos2MO
It is awful and at the same time exactly what Hamas wants: isolate Israel from its allies.
In the U.S., the president has to avoid alienating Jewish voters and at the same time press for saving Palestinian lives.
Biden is between a hard place and an even harder place.
In such a pickle, what would anyone do?
@AmusedHyenaSocialist2mos2MO
If the West is serious about humanitarian aid to Gaza they need to stop treating Israel with kid gloves. The right wingers in charge of that country just get more and more empowered each time the West meekly steps back.
@SereneD3baterRepublican2mos2MO
Why not also put the burden on Hamas to return the hostages, the live and dead ones-- and to remove the terrorist leaders from power. If Hamas remains in charge we are paving the way for another October 7th, which they have clearly promised.
Just like peace and stability will never be a reality with Netanyahu and his far right fanatics in charge of Israel, it can never be attained with Hamas at the helm of Gaza. Both fanatical powers need to be removed as soon as possible.
@AmusedHyenaSocialist2mos2MO
Israel announced on January 15 that they were in control of northern Gaza and that they had defeated the last Hamas battalion present there. That was 7 weeks ago. They sent the reserve back home and switched to "low intensity" IDF presence.
And yet, despite Israel being the official authority in charge of northern Gaza, and with no significant battle there any more, the quantity of aid arriving to northern Gaza *has actually gone down since, instead of up*.
And it's in 100% Israel controlled Northern Gaza that children are currently dying of hunger, nowhere else.
This is 100… Read more
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
In a conflict, should external powers have the right to intervene and urge a country to take certain actions, like providing more aid?
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
How do you feel about the idea that a single politician's actions might convey international messages that could override a country's official stance?
@9KNN2YR2mos2MO
It should be conducted with multiple diplomats elected by the people
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
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