Extract from ABC News
In short:
United States Vice-President Kamala Harris has met with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in what she describes as "frank" talks on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The US is pushing for a six-week ceasefire-for-hostages deal between Israel and Hamas which appears to be in its closing stages.
What's next?
Mr Netanyahu is expected to meet Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in Florida on Friday.
US Vice-President Kamala Harris has held "frank" talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, she told reporters.
The talks were watched for signs of how Ms Harris might shift American policy about Israel if she becomes president.
"Israel has a right to defend itself. And how it does so matters," Ms Harris said after the meeting.
She said she raised serious concerns about the scale of human suffering in Gaza.
"I made clear my serious concern about the dire humanitarian situation there," she said.
"We cannot allow ourselves to be numb to the suffering and I will not be silent.
"It is time for this war to end."
Harris strikes a tougher tone
Ms Harris's remarks reflected what could be a shift from President Joe Biden in how she deals with Mr Netanyahu.
The vice-president has come forward as the US Democratic Party's presidential nominee after Mr Biden stepped down from the 2024 race on Sunday.
The Gaza conflict has splintered the Democratic Party and sparked months of protests at Mr Biden's events.
A drop in support among Arab-Americans could hurt Democratic chances in Michigan, one of a handful of states likely to decide the November 5 election.
Mr Biden's desire for unity in the party in the drive to defeat Donald Trump was cited on Wednesday night in an Oval Office address as a main reason why he decided not to seek re-election but to instead support Ms Harris for the 2024 race.
Under Mr Biden, the US has continued supplying arms to Israel and protecting the country from critical United Nations votes, even as relations have strained between the countries over Israel's offensive in Gaza.
More than 39,000 people in Gaza have been killed during the now nine-month-long war, according to health officials in the region.
The conflict began on October 7 when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel from Gaza, killing 1,200 people.
Hamas-led fighters took 250 captives on October 7, according to Israeli tallies.
Some 120 hostages are still being held, though Israel believes one in three are dead.
Mr Biden travelled to Israel days after the attack and pledged American support for the country.
Since then, the US president has focused on organising a six-week ceasefire-for-hostages deal between Israel and Hamas.
Ms Harris has been aligned with Mr Biden on Israel but has struck a tougher tone.
"There has been hopeful movement in the talks to secure an agreement on this deal, and as I just told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it is time to get this deal done," Ms Harris said after her talks with Mr Netanyahu.
"To everyone who has been calling for a ceasefire, and to everyone who yearns for peace, I see you and I hear you.
"Let's get the deal done so we can get a ceasefire to end the war."
Negotiations on the long-sought deal appear to be in their closing stages, a senior US official said on Wednesday.
US officials have made similar pledges before about a ceasefire, which evaporated under last-minute differences.
Whether Mr Biden, who is now a "lame duck" president — a term used for officials who won't serve another term — or Harris, who is tied in many election polls with Republican rival Trump, can have any influence on Mr Netanyahu remains to be seen.
Netanyahu visit poses 'a lot to talk about'
Mr Netanyahu gave a defiant speech to the US Congress on Wednesday in which he defended Israel's attacks on Gaza, saying anti-Israel protesters "should be ashamed of themselves".
The White House was ringed with extra security fencing to protect against protesters on Thursday.
Mr Biden and Mr Netanyahu met together with the families of American hostages held by Hamas.
Representatives for the families told reporters after the meeting they were hoping for a ceasefire deal which would bring the hostages home.
"We came today with a sense of urgency," Jonathan Dekel-Chen said.
He said they were more optimistic of a deal since the first release of Israeli hostages from a previous ceasefire.
Hours before Ms Harris's talks with the Israeli prime minister, Mr Biden held his first face-to-face official talks with Mr Netanyahu since travelling to Israel days after Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack.
During the talks, the president also pressed for a ceasefire.
"We've got a lot to talk about," Mr Biden said when he welcomed Mr Netanyahu to the Oval Office.
"I want to thank you for 50 years of public service and 50 years of support for the state of Israel," Mr Netanyahu told Mr Biden.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said gaps remain between Israel and the Hamas militants who run the Palestinian enclave in the drive for a ceasefire, but "we are closer now than we've been before".
"Both sides have to make compromises," Mr Kirby said.
State Department spokesperson Matt Miller said, "I think the message from the American side in that meeting will be that we need to get this deal over the line."
On Friday, Mr Netanyahu is expected to meet Trump in Florida.
Reuters
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