Pentagon chief cancels Israel visit amid growing tensions over Gaza policy

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly canceled a planned visit to Israel. Hegseth was expected to arrive in the country on May 12, though the trip had not been officially confirmed by the Pentagon.

The report did not specify the reason behind the abrupt cancellation. However, the move comes at a time of increasing diplomatic friction between Washington and Jerusalem over the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

US is intensifying its efforts to push for a negotiated settlement between Israel and Hamas that would bring an end to the hostilities in Gaza. The push for diplomacy follows recent inflammatory remarks made by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who declared that Gaza would be “entirely destroyed.”

The United States, while consistently affirming Israel’s right to self-defence, has voiced growing concern over the scale of Israel's military operations in Gaza and the rising humanitarian toll. Washington is reportedly encouraging Israeli officials to pursue a deal that could lead to a ceasefire and the release of hostages, including dual nationals, held by Hamas.

According to a report from Israeli media, the US Defense Secretary will now accompany President Donald Trump on his upcoming diplomatic tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, bypassing a previously anticipated visit to Israel. The report underscores that President Trump will only travel to Israel if a ceasefire agreement is reached between Israel and Hamas, along with the release of hostages held in Gaza.

Initial plans had suggested that Hegseth would visit the Jewish State on May 12 for high-level meetings with Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ahead of the president’s broader regional tour. However, shifting diplomatic priorities and the fragile state of ceasefire negotiations appear to have altered the US delegation’s itinerary.

By Vafa Guliyeva