Netanyahu’s Surprise Visit to Southern Gaza Sparks Controversy Ahead of US Congress Speech
In a dramatic move, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an unannounced visit to the troops stationed in southern Gaza on Thursday. This visit comes just days before he is scheduled to address the US Congress. Netanyahu’s office revealed the visit to Rafah only after he had left the conflict-ridden Palestinian territory, with further details expected later in the day.
This visit follows closely on the heels of a contentious trip by Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, to the sensitive Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem. Ben-Gvir’s visit has added tension to the already fragile ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, currently taking place in Cairo.
Netanyahu’s Gaza visit and Ben-Gvir’s actions appear to be strategic, sending a strong message in advance of Netanyahu’s upcoming speech to the US Congress. Earlier on Thursday, the Israeli parliament passed a symbolic resolution rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state, underlining Israel’s firm stance on the issue.
Ben-Gvir, an ultranationalist settler leader with a controversial past including multiple convictions for racism and supporting a terrorist organization, stated his visit to Al-Aqsa was to pray for the return of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, without offering any concessions.
The ongoing ceasefire talks in Cairo aim to resolve the nearly nine-month-long conflict between Israel and Hamas. However, Netanyahu’s unexpected Gaza visit and Ben-Gvir’s provocative actions threaten to escalate tensions and potentially derail the delicate negotiation