Israeli Defense Minister Gallant visits D.C. as Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal uncertain

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Protestors shouted as Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant walked into a meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Gallant is in Washington this week to meet with top U.S. officials.

His visit comes as clashes continue between Israel and the Biden administration.

Even so, State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller says, “Our commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad.”

Miller says that’s what the U.S. will emphasize to Gallant. He says the U.S. will also reiterate the need for Israel to form a plan for after the war, amid reports that Israel is winding down major operations in Rafah.

“For there to be an enduring defeat of Hamas, there needs to be a plan for what replaces them,” Miller said.

The meetings also come on the heels of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claims that the U.S. has dramatically slowed down weapons shipments to Israel.

“It’s inconceivable that in the past few months, the administration has been withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel,” Netanyahu said. Miller denies that.

“I don’t understand what that comment meant at all. We have paused one shipment of high payload munitions. That shipment remains on pause. It remains under review. There are other weapons that we continue to provide,” Miller said.

Gallant is scheduled to meet with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Tuesday and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Wednesday.

Miller said the U.S. hopes to walk away from these meetings with commitments that Israel will do more to get humanitarian aid to Gaza and move closer to a ceasefire.

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