Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Monday evening that President Joe Biden will visit Israel on Wednesday to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“He is coming here at a critical moment for Israel, for the region and for the world,” Blinken said in an official announcement.

News outlets have reported that the development appears to signal the postponement of Israel’s invasion of the Gaza Strip. Israel Defense Forces troops and reservists have massed along the southern border since the October 7 surprise attack by Hamas.