(NewsNation) — A visit by the Israel diplomatic delegation to Washington, D.C., has been rescheduled, a United States official told NewsNation.
The trip was canceled Monday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the United Nation’s decision to call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza,
This meeting will now likely happen next week, the official said Wednesday.
A cease-fire resolution had passed 14-0 in the United Nations Security Council after the U.S. decided to abstain instead of using its veto power. In response, Netanyahu accused the U.S. of “retreating” from a “principled position,” while White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the administration was “kind of perplexed” by the trip’s cancellation.
Members of the Biden administration — including national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and CIA Director Bill Burns — have had “constructive discussions” with Israel’s defense minister over the last two days, a U.S. official said to NewsNation. Among the topics talked about was the Gazan city of Rafah.
Netanyahu has said his aims can only be met if Israel expands its ground offensive to the city of Rafah, despite the United States’ plea for them not to invade the area. Over half of Gaza’s population, displaced because of Israel’s bombardment, have taken refuge there in crowded tent camps.
Israel has killed over 32,000 Palestinians, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Associated Press. The country declared war after Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct.7, killing 1,200 and taking 250 hostages.
Since then, much of the Gaza Strip has been left in ruins, with aid organizations saying famine is imminent.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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