Netanyahu and Gallant meet with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, discuss developments in Gaza and Lebanon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant both met with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Tel Aviv on Thursday, ahead of Sullivan's meeting with Israel's War Cabinet. 

Sullivan arrived in Israel one day after U.S. President Joe Biden made a critical comment, calling Israel’s bombing in Gaza “indiscriminate.” 

In remarks at a fundraiser in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Biden said that Israel “has most of the world supporting it. But they’re starting to lose that support by the indiscriminate bombing that takes place.” 

While the phrase “indiscriminate bombing” appeared to accuse Israel of war crimes, or at least negligence, the Biden administration later attempted to walk back some of the criticism. 

U.S. National Security Spokesman John Kirby later said: “He [Biden] was expressing concerns that we continue to see civilian casualties in Gaza and again that we want to make sure that as they work to minimize, that they actually have those kinds of results,” Kirby said. 

Kirby also highlighted recent moves by Israel to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza, such as providing maps to identify safe areas and operational pauses to allow civilians to flee combat zones.

“We know they’ve stated their intent to reduce civilian casualties and they have acted on that,” Sullivan added.

The U.S. is also reportedly concerned with Netanyahu’s unwillingness to pursue a two-state solution after the end of the war. Biden has been vocal about his support for a two-state solution throughout his term. 

While a readout of the meeting between Netanyahu and Kirby was not been provided at the time of publication, a transcript of Gallant’s remarks to Sullivan ahead of the War Cabinet meeting was published. 

Gallant thanked Sullivan for the ongoing U.S. support of Israel’s war effort. 

“The United States and Israel share common interests, common values, and in this war, we also share common goals. This is important to the State of Israel and it is essential to the rest of the region, to the Middle East. Thank you to the United States and to you personally for standing with us.” 

Gallant also told Sullivan that Israel would need more than a couple of months to destroy Hamas’ extensive infrastructure. 

”Hamas is a terrorist organization that built itself over a decade to fight Israel, and they built infrastructure under the ground and above the ground and it is not easy to destroy them,” Gallant stated. “It will require a period of time – it will last more than several months, but we will win and we will destroy them.” 

Gallant and Sullivan discussed operational developments in Gaza, the northern border with Lebanon, and the need to allow Israeli citizens to return to their homes in the north. They also discussed various threats in the Middle East region, including Iranian aggression via its proxies in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria. 

Gallant told Sullivan that Israel will support international efforts in countering naval threats and that it will defend itself against any threat.

The defense minister also thanked Sullivan for his “personal commitment” to Israel. 

“Mr. Sullivan, thank you for coming to Israel during this period of war – we appreciate it very much. We appreciate your personal commitment to the State of Israel – to releasing the hostages, and to the diplomatic effort [you are leading] and your support in the military channel. Thank you.”