US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, on Tuesday amid mounting tensions.
This conference was held barely one day after the US decided not to vote in favor of an early cease-fire in Gaza in a UN Security Council resolution.
US-Israel Meeting Underscores Unwavering Commitment to Security
Unexpectedly, in the wake of one of its closest friends’ historic abstention, Israel has opted to postpone the arrival of a high-level delegation in Washington this week.
However, Gallant, who had just arrived in the nation, decided to stay longer after consulting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
The Defense Department’s press secretary, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, stressed the meeting’s importance in a statement on Tuesday and underlined America’s unwavering commitment to Israel’s long-term security. Both sides emphasized their shared objectives by expressing their commitment to fighting Hamas together.
Furthermore, Israel was preoccupied with the impending attack in Gaza’s southernmost city, Rafah. Over a million individuals who were uprooted from other parts of the strip have found sanctuary in this city.
Austin underlined how crucial it is to keep people safe throughout the Rafah operations. He emphasized that protecting the safety and offering aid to individuals seeking refuge in the region is both a moral duty and a strategic objective for the United States and Israel.
According to Austin, no more action should be done until a workable and credible plan has been put in place.
Gallant posted a photo and an update on their conversation on X following the meeting. As per Gallant, the main emphasis was on the continuous endeavors to vanquish Hamas and the cooperative efforts between Israel and the United States to ensure the secure repatriation of the kidnappees.
There was silence over Israel’s plans to attack Rafah on the ground. Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, finds it challenging to maintain his ruling coalition, which is thought to be the most right-wing in the country’s history.
Netanyahu has declared that he will not back down from starting a military operation in Gaza, despite repeated warnings from the US not to.
This happens concurrently with some of his Cabinet members advocating for an even more robust citywide plan.
According to what he claimed, Israel has to attack and eliminate four battalions consisting of numerous fighters who are purportedly looking for refuge in the area in order to defeat Hamas.
There is growing political pressure on President Joe Biden to resolve the Palestinian conflict and stop more deaths, both at home and abroad. This occurs while the US keeps supplying Israel with military assistance.
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Israeli Health Ministry Reports 32,000 Deaths Amid Gaza Offensive
As a result of the continuing offensive in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Health Ministry reports that over 32,000 people have perished. A sizable segment of the populace faces famine as a result of the offensive’s harsh food cuts.
A new project was started in reaction to the October 7th onslaught by Hamas on Israel, which claimed almost 1,200 deaths and took 240 others prisoner.
The US decision to abstain at the Security Council sparked a furious response from Netanyahu’s office through a series of posts on X, which was followed by Ryder’s statements.
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