Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed Israel's ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, not to provide any assistance for the visit of War Cabinet member Benny Gantz to Washington, which he claims violates government regulations. Netanyahu also refused government funding for the trip.

Gantz will travel to Washington today, Sunday, on an "unofficial" visit and will meet with senior U.S. officials, including Vice President Kamala Harris and White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. According to sources familiar with the visit, Biden may unexpectedly join one of Gantz's meetings at the White House.

Netanyahu is reportedly angry about the visit. He said, "The State of Israel has only one Prime Minister." The Prime Minister's Office does not recognize the visit as official because it was not approved by the Prime Minister.

Gantz will also meet with Democratic and Republican members of Congress, in addition to senior officials at the Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and he will visit the United Kingdom on his way back to Israel.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, Gantz's office said, "Minister Gantz personally informed the Prime Minister on Friday that he intends to visit the United States, to coordinate with him the messages to be conveyed on behalf of the government." Minister Gantz is expected to return to Israel on Wednesday after another diplomatic visit to Britain." The visit comes amid American frustration with Netanyahu’s conduct in the war - and allegations that he is acting based on political considerations, amid pressure from far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

Officials close to the minister said that Gantz aims during his visit to maintain Israel's legitimacy for the ground operations in the Gaza Strip while promoting an agreement in Lebanon. The officials said that Gantz also aims to increase American pressure on mediators in the negotiations to secure the release of the hostages, and to discuss future normalization agreements, which will also be part of the political plan to weaken Hamas's rule, and to ensure American assistance to Israel.