U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are scheduled to meet in late July when the Israeli leader visits Washington to address U.S. Congress about the war in Gaza, a White House official said on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Netanyahu is scheduled to address the US Congress on July 24 during his visit to Washington. He will address a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The potential meeting between Biden and Netanyahu was first reported by CNN, with the network adding that logistical details for the meeting, scheduled to take place at the White House, were still being finalized.
The United States maintains strong diplomatic and arms support for Israel as the war in Gaza continues, but Biden has also expressed concerns about Israel’s actions.
For example, he once called Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza indiscriminate, but on another occasion characterized the military response as “excessive.”
In an April call with Netanyahu after the aid worker’s killing, Biden urged him to do more to protect civilians in Gaza or U.S. policy could change.
Republicans criticized Democrat Biden and called for more support for Israel.
There has been growing international criticism of Israel’s actions and U.S. support for its allies in a war that has so far killed tens of thousands of people and sparked a humanitarian crisis.
The local health ministry said many more are feared buried in the rubble after the war in Gaza killed some 38,000 people and destroyed almost the entire Strip, forcing most of its 2.3 million residents to flee.
Hunger is spreading in Gaza.
The war has led to allegations of genocide, which Israel denies.
The Israeli offensive into the Gaza Strip began after the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages in Hamas-controlled areas, according to an Israeli tally.
