2024-03-26 21:02:49
This content was published on 26 March 2024 – 20:02
By Idris Ali
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday that protecting Palestinian civilians from harm during the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) is a moral and strategic necessity.
Austin added that the situation in the besieged Gaza Strip is an increasingly worsening humanitarian disaster.
Austin was speaking at the beginning of his meeting with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant at the headquarters of the US Department of Defense (the Pentagon) at a time when relations between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deteriorated to their lowest levels during the war.
“In Gaza today, the number of civilian casualties is too high and the volume of humanitarian aid is too low,” Austin said.
He added, “Gaza is suffering a humanitarian catastrophe, and the situation is worsening,” using his harshest language since the beginning of the crisis.
Israel launches a ground and air attack on Gaza, which health authorities in the Strip said has claimed the lives of more than 32,000 Palestinians so far.
The severe food shortage raises fears of famine after hungry civilians in the Strip began searching for wild green hibiscus because there was nothing else edible.
“We need to increase aid immediately in order to avoid famine,” Austin said.
A senior defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said more aid was now flowing through land crossings and that about 200 trucks on average were crossing into Gaza daily.
Austin’s meeting with his Israeli counterpart comes after Netanyahu on Monday canceled a visit to Washington for two of his senior aides who were scheduled to listen to American ideas regarding operational alternatives.
Netanyahu’s relations with Biden collapsed due to Washington’s decision not to use its veto power against a UN Security Council resolution seeking an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The United States is working to persuade Netanyahu to consider alternatives to a ground invasion of Rafah, the last relatively safe haven for Palestinian civilians.
Austin said that he would discuss with Gallant alternative methods to target Hamas militants in Rafah.
The senior defense official said that Austin discussed possible measures, including the Israeli army precisely targeting Hamas fighters in Rafah.
The threat of such an attack has increased rifts between close allies, the United States and Israel, and raised questions about whether the United States would restrict military aid if Netanyahu defies Biden and goes ahead anyway.
Austin said that the security relationship between Israel and the United States is “unwavering.”
He added, “The United States is Israel’s closest friend, and this will not change.”
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