Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied meddling in the travel arrangements of political rival Benny Gantz as he held meetings with key Israeli allies. 

According to the Times of Israel, who quoted an Israeli Channel 12 report, “At Netanyahu’s instruction, Israeli Ambassador to Britain Tzipi Hotovely ordered embassy staff not to assist the Shin Bet with making security arrangements for Gantz’s visit, among them logistical matters such as transportation and lodging.”

Minister Benny Gantz shake hands with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a plenum session for Israelis held kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on December 25, 2023. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90

The Israeli foreign ministry refused to comment on the accusations, and the Prime Minister’s office issued a firm denial. 

According to Israeli media, Netanyahu was blindsided by Gantz’s trip and according to Ynet, “A source close to Netanyahu said he ‘made it clear to Minister Gantz that the State of Israel only has one prime minister.’

Gantz, is seen as a centrist figure in Israel’s war-time government who has seen his party’s support surge, as well as his own personal poll ratings at the expense of Netanyahu and his party, Likud.

The former general and veteran of the First Lebanon War embarked on his surprise tour on Sunday, first meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken as well as senior White House officials in Washington DC, where it’s believed they discussed the aid situation in the Gaza Strip and US officials allegedly claimed that last week’s tragic aid riot could’ve been avoided if “Israel were doing more to ensure humanitarian aid was reaching civilians.”

He then flew to the UK for a meeting with Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron, where he was reportedly told by the former PM the UK has “deep concern” over the prospect of an attack on Rafah, and that the IDF must take steps to increase aid into the Strip.

According to London-based Israeli journalist Elad Simchayoff , Gantz also briefly met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who told him while pressure is mounting in the British public and parliament, he does not allow himself to forget October 7th and added "It changed everything".