U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant discussed the withdrawal of the Israeli army from parts of the Gaza Strip and the investigations conducted by the Israeli military into the deaths of aid workers. According to a statement from the Pentagon, reported by "Russia Today," "Austin spoke with Gallant today to discuss the urgent need for a significant increase in the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, including the implementation of the steps approved by the Israeli War Cabinet."
The two ministers also discussed "the investigation being conducted by the Israel Defense Forces into the tragic attack on humanitarian aid workers at the global central kitchen and the need for procedural changes to ensure that such incidents do not happen again."
Additionally, the statement noted that "Gallant provided details on the withdrawal of the Israeli army from parts of Gaza and the future of the Israeli campaign against Hamas. Austin expressed his commitment to supporting the unconditional return of all hostages and his hope that ongoing negotiations would lead to a cessation of hostilities." The U.S. Secretary reaffirmed "the United States' unwavering support for Israel's defense in light of the threats posed by Iran and its network of proxies."
