United States President Joe Biden has held talks at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a day after thousands protested against the Israeli leader’s visit to the United States capital amid the Gaza war.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, the likely Democratic presidential nominee in November’s election, is also meeting Netanyahu. The talks come after the Israeli prime minister delivered a fiery defence of Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed more than 39,000 Palestinians and created a humanitarian catastrophe, in an address to a joint session of the US Congress.
Several U.S. lawmakers boycotted the speech and thousands of protesters gathered at the US Capitol to call on Washington to cut off military assistance to its “ironclad” Middle East ally. More protesters also gathered in front of the White House on Thursday.
The Biden administration has continued to provide unwavering support to Israel amid the conflict in Gaza, authorising billions of dollars in military aid and providing Israel with key diplomatic backing.
U.S. officials said Biden plan to push Netanyahu during their White House meeting to finalise a three-phase ceasefire deal with Hamas that Biden first presented in May.