Prime Minister Edi Rama will pay a working visit to Israel from January 25 to 27, as part of his participation in the International Conference on Combating Anti-Semitism. He will be accompanied by the Albanian delegation and his wife, Linda Rama.
According to the official agenda, Rama will deliver a speech at the plenary session of the Israeli parliament (Knesset), in a format reserved for certain foreign leaders, and on Monday, January 26, he will hold a one-on-one meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, followed by a meeting between delegations and a press statement.
The visit comes at a time of international tension, as Israel continues military operations in the Gaza Strip despite a ceasefire agreement. In recent days, new killings of Palestinian civilians from drone strikes, bombings and artillery fire have been reported in Gaza City, Jabalia and other areas of the enclave.
Medical sources in Gaza report casualties almost daily, including women and children, while hospitals operate in critical conditions due to lack of equipment, power and medicines. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 71,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 170,000 injured since October 2023, with the numbers continuing to rise.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains under investigation and wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity related to military operations in Gaza.
In this context, some European leaders have chosen to diplomatically distance themselves from Netanyahu. Governments and heads of state in Europe have avoided official invitations, bilateral visits or public meetings with him, due to the political and legal costs associated with the ICC arrest warrant and international pressure over the war in Gaza.
Rama's visit to Israel, amid new killings in Gaza and Netanyahu's growing isolation, is expected to raise questions about the balance between Albanian diplomacy, political message and the reality of the war on the ground.
