Donald Trump touts warm ties to Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, blasts Kamala Harris
- The US vice-president had voiced concerns about the Gaza war’s toll on Palestinian civilians, in remarks Trump called ‘disrespectful’
![Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) is welcomed by former US president Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday. Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO via dpa](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1020x680/public/d8/images/canvas/2024/07/27/9d21d5b7-b228-40ee-a3ee-91d5c159672b_0514809b.jpg?itok=8WrfWxkx&v=1722018854)
Former US president Donald Trump said his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had always been warm as the two leaders met on Friday, and the Israeli leader said he hoped progress was being made in talks on a Gaza ceasefire.
Netanyahu travelled to Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida resort, to meet Trump, the Republican nominee in the 2024 US presidential race, after meeting Democratic US President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris, who is running against Trump in the November 5 US election.
Trump greeted Netanyahu and his wife Sara and criticised Harris, who had voiced concern in public comments after meeting the Israeli leader about the toll on Palestinian civilians from Israel’s nine-month-old campaign in Gaza.
“I think her remarks were disrespectful,” Trump said.
![Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s motorcade travels to Mar-a-Lago on Friday. Photo: AFP Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s motorcade travels to Mar-a-Lago on Friday. Photo: AFP](https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/07/27/cd923886-384a-4e50-862c-85b6664ab0ed_cb1f4dc7.jpg)
Netanyahu said he hoped his US trip would lead to a quicker ceasefire deal.
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