Israeli army chief Halevi meets with top Arab generals amid Gaza war

Israeli army chief of staff General Herzi Halevi held talks with his counterparts from several Arab nations this week to discuss regional security cooperation, US news website Axios reported. 

According to the news site, top military officials from countries such as Jordan, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Saudi Arabia joined talks with Halevi which were brokered by the US Central Command. 

The discussion took place in the Bahraini capital Manama, according to two sources who had direct knowledge of the meeting and spoke to Axios.

US General Michel "Erik" Kurilla, the commander of the US Central Command, also reportedly took part in the discussions.

"The meeting was a signal that military dialogue and cooperation between Israel and Arab countries continues under CENTCOM despite harsh public criticism and condemnation of Israeli military operations in Gaza," the report said. 

US Central Command and the Israeli military did not immediately comment following the report. 

Last week, Gen. Kurilla visited Israel after an invitation was extended by Halevi, which coincided with Israel’s attack on the Nuseirat refugee camp on 8 June which killed at least 274 Palestinians. 

US President Joe Biden has presented what he called an Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza at the end of May, which has caused divides among Israeli officials and which Hamas has accepted but proposed amendments to.

Hamas's response has been framed as a "rejection" by Israel and US Secretary State Antony Blinken has accused the group of "hindering progress" towards a ceasefire.

His comments were angrily rejected by Hamas. Israel's war on Gaza has killed at least 37,232 people, most of them women and children, since it began more than eight months ago.