U.S. President Joe Biden plans to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Thursday, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary confirmed on Wednesday.
Netanyahu’s office had said the previous day that the Israeli premier had been invited for a White House meeting, which will be his first invitation there since he was re-elected in November 2022.
The two “will discuss developments in Gaza and progress towards a ceasefire and hostage release deal and the United States’ ironclad commitment to Israel’s security, including countering Iran’s threats to Israel and the broader region,” according to Jean-Pierre.
After the meeting, Biden and Netanyahu will both meet with families of U.S. hostages whom Hamas holds or held in Gaza, the White House said. Jean-Pierre added that Netanyahu will meet “separately” on Thursday with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democrat nominee for president, whom Biden has endorsed.