Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is set to host Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon next week, as confirmed by a defense official. The meeting will cover various important topics, including efforts to secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas, the necessity for increased humanitarian aid to reach Palestinian civilians, and strategies to ensure the safety of over 1 million individuals seeking shelter in Rafah while also mitigating the threat posed by Hamas to Israel.
The official highlighted that the upcoming meeting follows an invitation extended by Austin for an official visit. It is distinct from a recent announcement made after a call between President Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which the prime minister agreed to dispatch a senior interagency team comprising military, intelligence, and humanitarian officials to Washington.
Netanyahu's agreement to send the delegation is specifically aimed at discussing Israel's planned operation in Rafah and addressing concerns regarding the well-being of the more than a million Palestinian civilians residing in the city.
