The U.S. Department of Defense, the Pentagon, announced that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet with his Israeli counterpart today, Tuesday, to discuss ways to defeat Hamas without launching a ground invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, as tensions between the two countries escalate.
Pentagon Press Secretary Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters on Monday that the morning meeting scheduled for Austin with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is still on, despite Israel canceling a high-level delegation's visit to Washington this week. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled the visit in protest against a United Nations Security Council decision on Monday calling for an immediate ceasefire, noting the United States' decision not to vote and its choice not to use its veto power; the resolution passed with 14 votes and no opposition.
Ryder stated, "There are ways to deal with the threat posed by Hamas, while also considering the safety of civilians. Many of these are drawn from lessons learned, our own lessons, and operations we've conducted in urban environments. I expect the talks will cover these issues."
In contrast, Israel believes it cannot defeat Hamas without entering Rafah, claiming the group has four battalions consisting of thousands of fighters. Netanyahu accused the United States of "backtracking" from its "firm position" by allowing the vote to pass without linking a ceasefire to the release of hostages in Gaza.
The conflict highlights the deteriorating relations between the United States and Israel as the military offensive in Gaza continues, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis there. John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council at the White House, expressed disappointment over the cancellation of this week's delegation visit, adding that discussions with Gallant are likely to cover some topics the U.S. intends to discuss with the Israeli delegation regarding the potential invasion of Rafah.
Gallant also met on Monday with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
