Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder issued a statement on Tuesday, summarizing the meeting between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon.
Ryder emphasized Gallant’s visit as a testament to the enduring support of the United States for Israel’s security, highlighting their joint commitment to countering Hamas.
“Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant discussed the paramount importance of prioritizing civilian protection during military operations in Rafah, addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, and tackling regional security threats,” noted the statement, reiterating the US stance against an Israeli operation in Rafah.
“The Secretary emphasized the moral obligation and shared strategic interest in safeguarding civilians, stressing that any operations in Rafah must be accompanied by a credible plan ensuring civilian safety and humanitarian aid,” said the statement.
Ryder highlighted Austin’s call for expanded humanitarian entry points and improved aid distribution within Gaza, emphasizing the US plan to establish a temporary maritime corridor for humanitarian assistance.
“The Secretary and the Minister reiterated the urgent need to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Secretary Austin expressed support for a diplomatic resolution to tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, ensuring Israeli civilians’ safe return,” concluded the Pentagon spokesman.
Gallant shared insights from the meeting on social media, expressing gratitude to Secretary Austin for discussing efforts to dismantle Hamas’ governance and terror capabilities and ensure regional stability.
“We also discussed the vital importance of maintaining Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge (QME) in the region and ongoing defense cooperation between both nations,” Gallant added.
During his Washington visit, Gallant also met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, where Blinken reiterated US support for defeating Hamas while opposing a major ground operation in Rafah that could endanger Palestinian civilians.
“Alternatives to a ground invasion exist, offering improved security for Israel and protection for Palestinian civilians. Secretary Blinken stressed the immediate need for additional humanitarian assistance for Gaza civilians,” the statement added.
The US administration has consistently voiced opposition to an Israeli operation in Rafah, with Blinken reaffirming this stance during his recent visit to Israel.
“We share Israel’s goal of defeating Hamas, but a major ground operation in Rafah is not the solution. We believe there are better alternatives,” Blinken told reporters at Ben Gurion Airport.
White House spokesperson John Kirby echoed this sentiment, cautioning against a major ground offensive in Rafah, emphasizing potential disastrous consequences.
US Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday told ABC News that she would not rule out “consequences” if Israel carried out a military operation in Rafah.
{Matzav.com}
The stupid administration of Biden’s cabinet always fails to honor and acknowledge that Israel wrote the book of honoring and respecting civilian lives. Israel has Bern hailed as the only country of the face of the universe that does what it does to protect civilian lives. Lloyd Austin should not be lecturing on the topic. Besides that neither he nor the POTUS cabinet cares about Israeli lives.
Netanyahu Reassures US Defense Secretary: “Israel Is Doing Everything Within Its Power to Protect The Civilian Population of Israel”
Upon learning that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, during a meeting with his Israeli counterpart, emphasized ‘the paramount importance of prioritizing civilian protection during military operations in Rafah’, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters that he agrees wholeheartedly with Mr. Austin about the importance of protecting the Israeli civilian population during the period of time when the Israeli military operation in Rafah is taking place.
“Mr. Austin is spot-on,” Mr. Netanyahu said. “I have no doubt that the enemy will attempt to murder more Israeli civilians while our security forces our engaged in battle with the terrorists in Rafah. But I believe our security forces can battle the bad guys inside Rafah, and protect the civilian population of Israel simultaneously.”
“Tell Mr. Austion that we appreciate his concern for our country’s civilian population, ” Mr. Netanyahu said, “and that we will do everything within our power to protect our civilian population from the cold-blooded terrorists, which is why we’re taking out the bad guys in Rafah.”
“I’d like to thank the US Defense Secretary for expressing his deep concern for our nation’s civilian population,” Mr. Netanyahu said.
https://www.newsweek.com/israel-has-created-new-standard-urban-warfare-why-will-no-one-admit-it-opinion-1883286
Acknowledgement of these facts is rough when it doesn’t support one’s anti-Israel narrative
Excerpted From ArlenefomIsrael.info
About a month ago, our marvelous friend Douglas Murray made this exceedingly pertinent observation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY__R1ylXVc
“The Israeli people are the only people in the world not allowed to win a war. Everybody else in the world is. But Israel, whenever it begins to win, is told to stop.”
When the Tziyonim lauded Biden’s visit, I immediately thought: What darkness, what idiocy.
The G’dolay Yavneh, Rabban Gamliel, knew enough to evade Titus when he came up Ir-Yivus.
I have a great idea, put both forces in the middle of the Mojave Desert and let them fight it out with toothpicks. Then have Austin and Biden both be tested for mental acuity (spoiler alert, there is none). Biden, Austin, Blinken, Winken, and Nod, how many civilians were protected in Afghanistan, Iraq and the big question Japan? We have met the enemy and he is us.
England to America (1945) No dropping any atomic bombs without a plan to ensure the safety of Japanese civilians.