Austin to Gallant: Committed to Unconditional Return of All Hostages

The spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon), Patrick Ryder, announced that "U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to discuss ongoing negotiations regarding hostages, humanitarian aid efforts, and Rafah." He noted that "Austin expressed his condolences for the Israeli soldiers who were killed and injured in a rocket and mortar attack launched by Hamas from Rafah." In a statement, he highlighted that "Austin reiterated the commitment to the unconditional return of all hostages and emphasized that any potential Israeli military operation in Rafah should include a credible plan for the evacuation of Palestinian civilians and the maintenance of humanitarian aid flow," clarifying that "Austin reiterated the United States' commitment to support Israel's defense."