US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held a phone call with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, to discuss ongoing hostage negotiations, humanitarian assistance efforts, and a possible ground operation in Rafah.
During the phone call, Austin expressed his condolences to the Israeli army soldiers who were killed and wounded in a rocket and mortar attack launched by Hamas from Rafah at the Kerem Shalom crossing.
Moreover, US Defense Secretary reiterated his commitment to the unconditional return of all hostages, stressing the need for any potential Israeli military operation in Rafah to include a credible plan to evacuate Palestinian civilians and maintain the flow of humanitarian aid.
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