Vice President Kamala Harris and national security adviser Jake Sullivan sharply criticized the humanitarian situation and pressed for an end to the war in Gaza during tense meetings with Israeli Minister Benny Gantz.
In their meeting in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Harris "welcomed Israel's constructive approach to the hostage talks" but pushed for Israel to allow more humanitarian aid to reach civilians in the Gaza Strip.
She also reiterated her "deep concern about the humanitarian conditions in Gaza and the recent horrific tragedy around an aid convoy in northern Gaza," according to a White House statement.
Gantz was surprised by the intensity of criticism and concern he heard during his meetings with Harris, Sullivan, and President Joe Biden's senior adviser on the Middle East, Brett McGurk, Israel's Walla News reported.
"There is significant difficulty here that needs to be addressed," an Israeli source familiar with the meeting's content said.
Harris assured Gantz that while the Biden administration would continue to support Israel, it would need to do its part. "Help us help you," Harris said.
Sullivan and McGurk told Gantz that Gaza would need to be "drowned in aid," according to the Walla News report, and that it was up to Israel to figure out how this could be achieved.
Sullivan also demanded that Israel present a specific timetable for an end to the war, which began on Oct. 7 with the murderous Hamas invasion into Israel.
Harris and Gantz also discussed the situation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, the last major town in the enclave that the IDF hasn't operated in so far. Harris reiterated the U.S. stance on "the need for a credible and implementable humanitarian plan prior to contemplating any major military operation there."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he had instructed the IDF to prepare a plan for the evacuation of civilians from the area before the army began operating there.
However, the Biden administration doesn't believe what it has heard so far from Israel's government regarding the Israeli plans, Walla News reported.
Harris, Sullivan, and McGurk repeatedly queried Gantz on where the about one million Palestinian refugees would be relocated, casting doubt on Israel's ability to do so at all. Gantz tried to convince them that Israel would not begin its operation in Rafah before the evacuation and stressed that it was possible.
Gantz, a member of Israel's war cabinet and leader of the National Unity Party, arrived in the U.S. on Sunday for a series of meetings with several high-profile representatives of the Biden administration.
Gantz will meet with State Secretary Antony Blinken on Tuesday before flying to London for further meetings with British officials.
The trip caused considerable turmoil in Israel's government, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said to be furious over the travel plans of the man who is currently leading him in the polls by a wide margin.
As punishment for failing to coordinate his trip with Netanyahu, Israel's embassy in Washington was directed not to facilitate Gantz's U.S. trip in any way.
Republished with permission from All Israel News.