Greg Abbott meets Benjamin Netanyahu on trip to Israel amid war in Gaza

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott met with Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, during a trip to the region with Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Abbott's office called the visit a "solidarity mission," with a press release noting the trip was a means to "reaffirm Texas’ enduring and unwavering support of the State of Israel, the Israeli people, and Israel’s right to self-defense amid acts of war by the brutal terrorist organization Hamas."

"There is a deep, enduring bond between Texas and Israel, with the blessings of freedom and burdens of vigilance embedded in the histories of both our people," Abbott said in the press release. "Unfortunately, never has freedom in Israel been more threatened than it is right now—and the people of Israel are vigorously fighting to defend it."

The governor's office continued to say Abbott would meet with other Israeli officials and victims. Since a deadly terrorist attack by Hamas in Israel, bombings and heavy fighting have occurred in Gaza, where the death toll is estimated in the thousands of Palestinians amid war between the two sides.

Photos shared by Abbott on X, formerly Twitter, show a meeting between himself, Stitt and Netanyahu. His visit to the region is expected to be brief before a return to Texas.

Photos from Gaza amid Israel's war with Hamas

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Amid Israel's war in Gaza, Greg Abbott meets Benjamin Netanyahu