US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke again with his Israeli counterpart Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday, the Pentagon said Tuesday.
The two discussed Israel’s operations against Hamas as well as the “criticality of increasing and sustaining humanitarian aid and protecting civilians in Gaza,” according to the statement.
Austin also emphasized to Gallant the US’ support for Israel and “the importance of preventing regional escalation,” it said.1 h
As cabinet meets, Netanyahu says security forces support hostage deal and that the war will continue
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the full cabinet to back a deal to exchange Palestinian prisoners for Israelis held hostage in Gaza, saying that the security forces support the deal and that the war on Hamas would continue.
“Before us tonight is a difficult decision, but it is the right decision: all the security forces support it, fully,” Netanyahu said in a video statement at the beginning of the meeting.
“They understood that the war effort would not only not hurt, but the opposite: this would allow the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] to prepare for the continuation of the fighting. And I would like to make it clear here again: the war continues, the war will continue until we achieve all of our goals: to eliminate Hamas, to return all our hostages, to ensure that the day after Hamas, Gaza will no longer be a threat to Israel, there will be no element in it that supports terrorism, that educates its children to terror , and who threaten the State of Israel,” Netanyahu said.
CNN
