Netanyahu Calls Off Planned Visit to Trump’s Inauguration
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided not to be present at Donald Trump’s swearing-in ceremony, as confirmed by an aide. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be attending US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony on January 20, as reported by The Times of Israel and confirmed by a senior aide to Netanyahu.
Trump is set to take the oath of office and be sworn in as the 47th US president at the Capitol in Washington, DC. Netanyahu was previously expected to be present at the event.
The senior aide did not provide details on why the trip was canceled. However, some reports linked the cancellation to Netanyahu’s recent prostate surgery, with suggestions that he was advised to rest following the procedure.
This canceled trip would have marked Netanyahu’s first international travel since an arrest warrant was issued against him and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in November. Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
The ICC's decision received mixed reactions globally, with some nations indicating they would comply with the court's directives, irrespective of diplomatic immunity. Hungary, a signatory to the Rome Statute, stated that it would not enforce the warrant, while the US, which is not a member of the ICC, condemned the ruling.
Reports indicate that Trump has been engaging with Netanyahu regarding the situation in the Middle East, particularly concerning Gaza. The two leaders had a conversation in December, which they both described as a “very good” and “warm” discussion. Trump reiterated his warning that hostages held in Gaza must be released before he takes office or there will be “hell to pay.”
A Hamas official recently mentioned that the group had approved a list of 34 captives to be released as part of a potential ceasefire agreement with Israel. However, progress has stalled following reports from Palestinian officials of over 100 deaths due to intensified Israeli airstrikes in the past weekend.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants carried out a deadly attack on Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of around 250 hostages to Gaza. In retaliation, Israel initiated a military campaign that has led to significant destruction and a high number of casualties in the Palestinian enclave, with Gaza’s health authorities reporting over 46,700 Palestinian deaths.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
Trump is set to take the oath of office and be sworn in as the 47th US president at the Capitol in Washington, DC. Netanyahu was previously expected to be present at the event.
The senior aide did not provide details on why the trip was canceled. However, some reports linked the cancellation to Netanyahu’s recent prostate surgery, with suggestions that he was advised to rest following the procedure.
This canceled trip would have marked Netanyahu’s first international travel since an arrest warrant was issued against him and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in November. Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
The ICC's decision received mixed reactions globally, with some nations indicating they would comply with the court's directives, irrespective of diplomatic immunity. Hungary, a signatory to the Rome Statute, stated that it would not enforce the warrant, while the US, which is not a member of the ICC, condemned the ruling.
Reports indicate that Trump has been engaging with Netanyahu regarding the situation in the Middle East, particularly concerning Gaza. The two leaders had a conversation in December, which they both described as a “very good” and “warm” discussion. Trump reiterated his warning that hostages held in Gaza must be released before he takes office or there will be “hell to pay.”
A Hamas official recently mentioned that the group had approved a list of 34 captives to be released as part of a potential ceasefire agreement with Israel. However, progress has stalled following reports from Palestinian officials of over 100 deaths due to intensified Israeli airstrikes in the past weekend.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants carried out a deadly attack on Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of around 250 hostages to Gaza. In retaliation, Israel initiated a military campaign that has led to significant destruction and a high number of casualties in the Palestinian enclave, with Gaza’s health authorities reporting over 46,700 Palestinian deaths.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
