US President Joe Biden met with Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday and thanked the president for his "50 years" of support to the state of Israel, as questions remained over the possibility of a Gaza ceasefire deal.
Biden's shock exit has left the US administration with less leverage over the hawkish Israeli leader who spoke to Congress yesterday and claimed his military had made efforts to protect Palestinians in Gaza and repeated falsities about the 7 October attacks.
Netanyahu will also meet Vice President Kamala Harris – the likely new Democratic presidential nominee – at the White House on Thursday, one day after he gave a speech to the US Congress.
The Israeli Prime Minister's US visit came as scores of people were killed in the Gaza Strip, with 129 dying over 48 hours in Khan Younis as a result of Israeli bombardment.
Relations between Biden and Netanyahu are tense over Israel's conduct in its war on Gaza, despite the US president's continued military and political support for Washington's key Middle East ally.
And while Biden says he wants to secure a truce and hostage release deal in his last six months in office, Netanyahu may be tempted to wait until after his lame duck presidency and negotiate with his successor instead.
As part of his first White House visit during Biden's presidency, Netanyahu will hold talks with the US leader in the Oval Office at 1pm (5pm GMT), and both will later meet the families of US captives held in Gaza.
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