White House official arrives to discuss concerns with Israeli leaders

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has arrived in Israel for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his cabinet, including Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

A social media post by Mr Netanyahu’s office on Thursday included a photograph of the prime minister shaking hands with Mr Sullivan in Tel Aviv, and said “an expanded meeting with the members of the war cabinet will be held later”.

During the visit, scheduled to last two days, Mr Sullivan also plans to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and is expected to convey Washington’s concerns about Israel’s actions during the war in Gaza.

US criticism has ranged from Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin advising Israel that civilian protection should be the “centre of gravity” of the war, to firmer comments from President Joe Biden, who told Mr Netanyahu to “change this government” earlier this week.

So far, Israel has staunchly resisted US calls to consider a political resolution to the conflict. Mr Gallant appeared to toe the same line during his meeting with Mr Sullivan on Thursday, and was quoted by his office as warning the US official that the war will “last more than several months”.

“Hamas is a terrorist organisation 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,” Mr Gallant said.

“It will require a period of time – it will last more than several months, but we will win and we will destroy them.”

Mr Sullivan’s visit coincides with the Israeli Parliament’s approval of an additional 25.9 billion shekels ($7 billion) for the national budget to cover the costs of the war in Gaza.

Before arriving in Israel, Mr Sullivan travelled to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, where he held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

They discussed “a number of bilateral and regional matters, including ongoing efforts to create new conditions for an enduring and sustainable peace between Israelis and Palestinians”, a White House statement said.

They also discussed the humanitarian response in Gaza, including how to increase the flow of critical aid to the besieged enclave.