Israel-Hamas war live updates: Harris calls for immediate Gaza cease-fire ahead of meeting with Israel’s Gantz
What we knowVice President Kamala Harris is set to meet with Israeli war Cabinet member Benny Gantz at the White House today. After calling for an "immediate cease-fire" in Gaza, Harris criticized the U.S. ally for not doing enough to allow aid into the enclave. She is expected to deliver an equally blunt message to Gantz, who is visiting Washington in defiance of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.The U.S. push for a new hostage deal came as talks were ongoing in Egypt to broker a six-week truce before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins next week. Israeli media reported that the government did not send a delegation because it is waiting to learn which hostages are alive and how many Palestinian prisoners Hamas seeks in exchange for each of them. The U.S. began a series of aid airdrops into Gaza over the weekend. The first, on Saturday, included about 38,000 meals into southwest Gaza. White House officials have said the airdrops will continue to supplement truck deliveries and they are also working on sending aid via sea. At least 15 children have died in northern Gaza in recent days because of malnutrition and dehydration, local health officials have said.Gaza’s death toll has passed 30,500 , according to the enclave's Health Ministry, amid surging fears of starvation in the north of the territory. The Israeli military officials said that at least 245 soldiers have been killed since the ground invasion of Gaza began.
