Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited the United States on Sunday, June 23, to discuss the next stage of the Gaza war and the escalation of hostile actions along the Lebanon border. Gallant referred to the discussions with U.S. officials on these two issues as “crucial talks.”
Before his visit to the U.S., Gallant emphasized the importance of the Israel-U.S. relationship and highlighted the significance of this visit.
“The meetings with senior U.S. government officials are crucial for the future of the war,” he said. “During these meetings, I plan to discuss the developments in Gaza and Lebanon. These discussions are particularly important and influential at this moment.”
“The transition to the third stage in Gaza is very important. I will discuss this transition with U.S. officials, talk about how to make more things happen, and I know we will closely cooperate with the U.S. on this issue,” he said. “We are prepared for any necessary actions in Gaza, Lebanon, and other possible regions.”
Gallant will meet with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, and is also expected to meet with CIA Director William Burns and U.S. special envoy Amos Hochstein.
The clashes between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon have raised concerns about a broader conflict. Following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7 last year, which led to the Gaza war shortly after, the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon began attacking Israel, and the two sides have been attacking each other for several months. Hezbollah has stated that they will not stop until a ceasefire is achieved in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with Israeli media Channel 14 on Sunday that the “intense stage of battle with Hamas in Gaza is coming to an end,” but the war will not be over until Hamas is completely eliminated.
Netanyahu stated that once the intense fighting in Gaza ends, Israel will be able to deploy more forces in the northern border areas with Lebanon so that residents who were forced to evacuate from those border areas can return home.
During Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel, many Israeli towns near the border were evacuated.
When asked about when the intense battle with Hamas would end, Netanyahu replied, “Soon.” However, the military will still be active in Gaza.
(This article references reports from The Times of Israel, Reuters, and The Guardian.)