Biden and Netanyahu Meet at the White House Amid Ongoing Conflict in Gaza
President Joe Biden welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House the day after Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress.
President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a one-on-one meeting at the White House on July 25 to discuss the ongoing Israel–Hamas conflict and U.S.–Israel relations.
The meeting took place following Netanyahu’s fourth address to a joint session of Congress. In his speech on July 24, Netanyahu expressed gratitude to President Biden for his support during the nearly 10-month conflict, which began with Hamas’ attack on Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023.
During his congressional speech, Netanyahu emphasized the need for continued unity between Israel and the United States as the conflict persists.
Prior to their meeting, both leaders briefly addressed the press, with Netanyahu thanking President Biden for his long-standing support of Israel and expressing his eagerness to collaborate in the future.
President Biden responded, stating that he also looked forward to their discussions and cooperation.
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Prior to the meeting, a senior administration official said that President Biden would reaffirm the U.S. commitment to Israel’s security and discuss the threats posed by Iran and its proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah.
The meeting also covered U.S. support for Israel’s defense capabilities and involved discussions regarding a potential breakthrough in negotiations for a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas. The Biden administration has shown optimism about progress in these negotiations, but Netanyahu did not specifically address them in his congressional speech.
This story is developing and will be updated.
