ISTANBUL

Two senior aides to Israel’s prime minister arrived in Washington to hold high-level talks with US officials on the Gaza and Iran issues, Israeli media said on Monday.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth daily, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi are set to meet US special envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the White House.

The talks are expected to cover Iran’s nuclear program and Gaza ceasefire negotiations with Hamas.

There was no immediate comment from the White House on the media report.

Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza for 18 years and, since March 2, has shut down all crossings, worsening humanitarian conditions in the enclave.

Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, killing nearly 60,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The relentless bombardment has destroyed the enclave and led to food shortages.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.