Israeli prime minister cancels planned Tuesday meeting with President Obama

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a planned trip to the White House on Tuesday after a military incident in Gaza left at least nine dead.

Netanyahu’s office told the Associated Press that the trip was off.

Obama spoke with the Israeli prime minister shortly after 10 a.m. on Monday, according to the White House.

“He said he understood the Prime Minister’s decision to return immediately to Israel to deal with today’s events,” the White House said in a statement. “They agreed to reschedule their meeting at the first opportunity.”

Netanyahu, who was traveling to Canada on Monday, planned to return to Israel to address the aftermath of an operation in which the Israeli military halted a flotilla carrying supplies to blockaded Gaza.

The talks this week in Washington had come at the invitation of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who met with Netanyahu last week during a personal visit to Israel. Many had hoped the meeting would help thaw the sometimes frosty relations between President Barack Obama and Netanyahu.

“The president expressed deep regret at the loss of life in today’s incident, and concern for the wounded, many of whom are being treated in Israeli hospitals,” the White House said in its read-out of the call. “The president also expressed the importance of learning all the facts and circumstances around this morning’s tragic events as soon as possible.”

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is still scheduled to meet with Obama in Washington on June 9th. 

Updated at 12:23 p.m.