Protecting Palestinians a 'strategic imperative,' US defense chief tells Israeli counterpart

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US defense chief Lloyd Austin told his Israeli counterpart Tuesday that it is a "strategic imperative" to protect Palestinians in Tel Aviv’s ongoing war.

"As I have consistently said, protecting Palestinian civilians from harm is both a moral necessity and a strategic imperative," Austin told Yoav Gallant ahead of their meeting at the Pentagon.

"In Gaza today, the number of civilian casualties is far too high, and the amount of humanitarian aid is far too low. Gaza is suffering a humanitarian catastrophe, and the situation is getting even worse," he said.

Stressing that immediate increases are needed in assistance to avert a famine, he said: "Our work to open a temporary humanitarian corridor by sea will help, but the key is still expanding aid deliveries by land.”

He also said he and Gallant will discuss how "dramatically and urgently" they can ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

- Safety of Palestinians in Rafah 'top priority' for US

"The safety of the 1.5 million Palestinian civilians in Rafah is also a top priority for the United States," said Austin.

Reiterating the US' support for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, Austin said the security bond between the US and Israel is "unshakable."

"The United States is Israel's closest friend and that won't change," he added.

Gallant said the defense leaders will discuss developments in Gaza and means to achieve goals, including the destruction of Hamas and bringing Israeli hostages home.

"The negotiation on the hostages issue and Hamas positions require us to join hands in our military and diplomatic efforts, and to increase pressure on Hamas.

"I will also raise the growing threats on our northern border and our commitment to returning displaced communities to their homes," he added.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Palestinian territory since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, which killed less than 1,200 people.

More than 32,400 Palestinians have since been killed and nearly 74,800 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war, now in its 172nd day, has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which in January issued an interim ruling that ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.