ISRAEL: Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant will leave today for talks in the United States, the government said, amid growing tensions between the allies over the offensive in Gaza.

Gallant will meet with US counterpart Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan “and additional senior officials”, a statement said.

“The parties will discuss developments in the war against the Hamas terrorist organisation in Gaza, efforts undertaken to return the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, humanitarian efforts and measures required to ensure regional stability,” it said.

The visit comes after Blinken’s latest whistle-stop tour of the region during which he warned that an Israeli offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah would be a “mistake” that “risks further isolating Israel around the world”. Gallant’s visit will be his first to Washington since the fighting broke out.

US President Joe Biden said on Monday he had told Netanyahu to send a team to Washington to discuss how to avoid a full-scale military operation in Rafah. A US defence official said this week that Gallant’s scheduled meeting with Austin was separate from the delegation visit requested by Biden.