A White House official announced that U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington at the end of July, when Netanyahu will visit the U.S. capital to deliver a speech in Congress regarding the war in Gaza. Netanyahu is scheduled to speak at a joint session of the House and Senate on July 24. CNN was the first to report the news, noting that the logistical details for the anticipated meeting at the White House have not yet been finalized.
This comes as 12 former U.S. government officials, who resigned over American support for the Israeli war in Gaza, accused the Biden administration on Tuesday of "unmistakable complicity" in the killing of Palestinians in the region. In a joint statement, the former officials argued that the administration is violating U.S. laws by supporting Israel and finding loopholes to continue shipping arms to its ally.
International criticism of Israel's approach in Gaza and American military and diplomatic support for its ally is escalating, with the ongoing conflict resulting in nearly 38,000 deaths and causing a humanitarian crisis. The resignations of U.S. officials reflect some internal opposition within the government regarding its support for Israel. Washington has called for the protection of civilians in Gaza and urged Israel to improve access to aid. Among the signatories of the joint statement are former members of the State Department, the Department of Education, the Department of Homeland Security, the White House, and the military.
