Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left for Washington this morning, where he will meet with U.S. President Joe Biden and deliver a politically risky speech before Congress at a time filled with significant uncertainty following Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race and amid domestic pressures to reach an agreement with Hamas for the release of hostages held in Gaza.

Before boarding the Zion Wing at Ben Gurion Airport, Netanyahu publicly interacted with President Biden's decision to step down at 81, expressing his intention to meet with him and thank him for over 40 years of friendship.

Netanyahu said, “This will be an opportunity to thank him for the things he has done for Israel during the war and throughout his long and distinguished public service, as a senator, vice president, and president.”

Netanyahu, speaking in a tone compatible with both the Republican and Democratic parties, expressed his intention to reaffirm to the United States that “regardless of whom the American people choose to be their next president, Israel remains its strongest and irreplaceable ally in the Middle East.”

Seemingly putting aside the differences between him and Biden, at least for now, Netanyahu emphasized the importance of presenting a united front after more than nine months since the attack on October 7 in southern Israel and amid the war in Gaza, where Israel seeks to dismantle Hamas and bring back the hostages held by the group.

Netanyahu continued, "The visit to Washington will be an opportunity to discuss with him how to move forward in the crucial months ahead in achieving the important goals for our two countries – securing the release of all our hostages, defeating Hamas, confronting the axis of terrorism led by Iran, and achieving peace," and ensuring that all citizens of Israel can safely return to their homes in the north and south.

The war in Gaza, which erupted following the attack carried out by Hamas fighters on October 7, which killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in 251 hostages being taken, has tested Israel’s relations with its major allies.

The Biden administration has stood firmly by Israel, becoming the first Democratic president to visit the country during wartime, just less than two weeks after the October 7 attack.

However, the relationship between the two major political figures appears increasingly strained due to disagreements over the Israeli campaign against Hamas, primarily the ongoing difficulties in delivering humanitarian aid to civilians, the high death toll, and what the United States claims is Israel's lack of post-war plans for the sector. Similar concerns are likely to persist if Americans elect a new Democratic president.

Biden had earlier this year halted the shipment of high-capacity bombs due to concerns over their use in the Israeli incursion in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, which was then sheltering more than half of Gaza's population of 2.3 million.

The issue of arms shipments turned into a prolonged dispute after Netanyahu issued a video statement criticizing the "unimaginable” "bottlenecks" created by the U.S. in moving arms shipments, to which the Biden administration responded that it had no idea what had occurred.

Nevertheless, Netanyahu, standing on the airport tarmac on Monday, asserted that “in this time of war and uncertainty, it is important for Israel's enemies to know that America and Israel stand together – today, tomorrow, and always.”

Netanyahu’s speech before Congress on Wednesday – his fourth as Prime Minister – is likely to create turmoil on both sides of the ocean, amid ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire and a hostage release agreement and growing concerns about opening a new front entirely with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon or Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The stakes have increased following Biden’s decision on Sunday to withdraw from the presidential race, especially as the selection of an alternative Democratic candidate – and likely the next American leader – remains unclear.

An individual familiar with Biden's schedule confirmed on Sunday that the president will host Netanyahu at the White House. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to comment publicly, stated that the precise timing of the meeting has not been determined as Biden is recovering from COVID-19.

Netanyahu is also expected to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris, who is vying for the Democratic Party nomination for president, as well as Republican candidate Donald Trump, although this meeting has not yet been confirmed.

The Prime Minister will be accompanied on his trip by released hostages and family members of those still held in Gaza, including some who have criticized the Prime Minister for the failures surrounding the October 7 attack but believe that their presence could pressure him to agree to a ceasefire and a hostage release agreement.

Speaking to the press before departing, Shelly Shim Tov, whose son Omar Shim Tov was kidnapped on October 7 from the Supernova music festival, stated that she decided at the last moment to accept the Prime Minister's invitation.

"For 290 days, I have not left the borders of the country. I was waiting for the moment I would receive the phone call that Omar is on his way home. She said of her decision to travel to Washington, 'I have been waiting for him to be returned to me for nine months.. this time I decided to take action.'

"To travel to scream with my voice and make a plea on behalf of all the hostage families. She added, "It is time to sign the agreement to bring them home."

Channel 12 reported that the Prime Minister was accompanied by Noa Arghamani, who was rescued by the Israeli army in a daytime operation in central Gaza last month, and her father, Yaakov Arghamani.

The brother of Oron Shaul – whose body has been held by Hamas since he was killed during the Gaza War in 2014 – was also present.

However, some relatives of the hostages publicly rejected the offer to accompany Netanyahu, accusing him of prioritizing the opportunity to give a speech before Congress over the well-being of their imprisoned loved ones.

Ayelet Levy Shachar, whose daughter Naama was kidnapped on October 7, told reporters: “This is not a time for trips. “Netanyahu, first reach an agreement, then you can travel.”

"The Israeli presidential plane" of hers

Netanyahu and his wife Sara, along with accompanying aides, security, and journalists, departed for Washington on the Zion Wing, marking the first time the aircraft has been used to transport an Israeli official.

The aircraft, a reconfigured and upgraded Boeing 767, faced delays and political battles for several years after being operational in 2014, and was finally approved for use at the end of 2021, although it remained stored at Nevatim Air Base until Netanyahu returned to office in December 2022.

While the aircraft was officially used for the first time last week to transport equipment and security personnel to Washington ahead of this trip, Monday’s flight provided the media with a preliminary look inside the Israeli version of the presidential plane.

The aircraft is divided into four sections – the personal area for the Prime Minister, that of his senior aides, the security and junior staff, and the press in the back.

Wooden panels separate the sections, which are equipped with blue seats with white headrests.

The pilots are Air Force pilots, some in reserve and others on active duty, and the flight attendants, most of them from the Israeli Air Force, are permanently assigned to the aircraft.

Onboard the long-awaited Israeli response to the U.S. presidential plane, there is a conference room, a dedicated surgical room, and open and secure communication networks allowing the Prime Minister to stay in touch with officials in Israel.

From the outside, the Boeing 767-300 features a white belly, a gray stripe, and a blue top with a Star of David on the tail.