The humanitarian crisis in besieged Gaza is becoming worse, according to U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who also stated that protecting Palestinian civilians in the conflict between Israel and Hamas is both strategically and morally necessary.
Austin was speaking at a meeting at the Pentagon with Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant when ties between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden reached a low point during the conflict.
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Austin stated that in Gaza “the number of civilian casualties is far too high and the amount of humanitarian aid is far too low.” Observing that he was seated across from Gallant—a pivotal figure in the military operation launched against Hamas in reaction to the terrorists’ cross-border assault on October 7 that, according to Israel, claimed 1,200 lives—was disturbing.
Austin used some of the strongest words he has ever used to describe the humanitarian
Speaking via a spokeswoman for the White House, Karine Jean-Pierre, the Israeli defense minister also spoke for a second day with Jake Sullivan, the national security advisor for the United States, who informed Gallant that Israel must extend the flow of humanitarian supplies to Gaza.
William Burns, the director of the CIA, and Gallant had a subsequent meeting. Burns had just returned from negotiations in Qatar and was trying to broker an elusive agreement for Hamas to free the more than 130 hostages detained in Gaza.
Speaking to reporters, Gallant emphasized the value of U.S. relations to his nation’s security as well as the preservation of Israel’s qualitative military advantage in the area, especially its air capabilities, in an apparent attempt to defuse tensions between the two countries.
“We share 100% of the values and 99% of the interests with the United States,” Gallant claimed.
Human rights organizations and some fellow Democrats have put pressure on Biden to withhold more military assistance in exchange for Netanyahu delaying a planned operation in Rafah, the southern Gaza city where over a million Palestinians are seeking refuge. This has been rejected by the US president.
The health officials in the Hamas-run enclave in Gaza report that over 32,000 Palestinians have died as a result of Israeli bombings and shelling.
“We need immediate increases in assistance to avert famine,” Austin said.
Speaking under anonymity, a senior U.S. defense official stated that around 200 trucks were entering Gaza every day and that more supplies were now entering through land borders.
Gallant’s meeting with Austin came about as a result of Netanyahu’s cancellation on Monday of two senior officials’ separate trip to Washington to seek American perspectives on possible operational options in Rafah.
The fact that Washington decided not to veto a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza worsened the already tense relationship between Netanyahu and Biden. The last reasonably secure shelter for Palestinian people, Rafah, is under attack. The United States has been trying to persuade Netanyahu to explore alternative options before launching a ground assault.
Austin declared that he was prepared to talk about other strategies for taking out Hamas militants there.
According to a senior defense official, Austin talked about possible actions such as Israel precisely hitting Hamas fighters in the southern city on Gaza’s border with Egypt.
The possibility of such an attack has widened the gulf between Israel and the United States, Israel’s key allies, and prompted concerns about whether the United States may cut off military support to Israel should Netanyahu defy Biden and go forward anyway.
While discussing humanitarian help, Gallant made it plain that Israel intended to continue its attempts to destroy Hamas, citing the need to dissuade “common enemies,” which appeared to be Iran. He added that there are still five battalions of Hamas in operation in Rafah.
Austin described the security alliance between the US and Israel as “unshakeable”. “The United States is Israel’s closest friend and that won’t change,” he asserted.
