Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled the Israeli delegation that was meant to meet with senior US officials in DC this week as “a message to Hamas,” said Netanyahu in a meeting with US Senator Rick Scott Wednesday.
Netanyahu canceled the delegation following a US abstention in the UN Security Council Monday that led to the adoption of a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate release of the hostages.
“I thought the US decision in the Security Council was very, very bad,” Netanyahu said in the meeting.
Message to Hamas: Pressure will not yield
“It encouraged Hamas to take a hardline and to believe that international pressure will prevent Israel from freeing the hostages and destroying Hamas.
“Therefore, my decision not to send the delegation to Washington in the wake of that resolution was first and foremost a message to Hamas: Don’t bet on this pressure to work.”
Later on Wednesday, NBC reported that the Prime Minister’s Office had told the White House that it would like to reschedule the meeting it canceled. Officials were reportedly working on finding a new date.
The PMO said in response, “Contrary to the publications, the Prime Minister did not approve the delegation’s departure to Washington.”
A senior Israeli official later said the meeting was being rescheduled at the request of the US. “The White House asked to set a new date for the delegation (Dermer and Hanegbi) to come to Washington to discuss the Rafah matter, a date has not yet been set. It is assumed that the delegation will leave for the United States at a later date,” the official noted.
This is a developing story.