Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin held a phone conversation with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant, during which he emphasized the need to prevent further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. This statement was released by the United States Ministry of Defense, as reported by TASS.
According to the statement, the conversation between the defense heads of the two countries took place on Saturday, November 11. Austin “confirmed Israel’s right to self-defense and emphasized the need to protect civilian populations and deliver humanitarian aid,” the statement said.
The Pentagon Chief also stated that it is necessary to prevent the conflict from spreading beyond the Gaza Strip and to avoid escalation in the region.
Prior to this, the New York Times, citing several officials in the Biden administration, expressed concerns that the prolonged military campaign by the Israeli Defense Forces in Gaza could lead to a larger conflict in the Middle East and isolate Israel and the United States, as the international community calls for a ceasefire.
The situation in the Middle East has escalated after thousands of Hamas militants infiltrated Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip on October 7, when Hamas announced the start of the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the country to be in a state of war.
The goal of Israel’s counter-operation, named “Iron Swords,” was to repel the attack, free over 200 hostages, including foreigners, and destroy Hamas. To achieve this goal, Israel launched massive rocket attacks on the Gaza Strip from the first day of the operation. Additionally, the Israeli National Security Council decided to halt the supply of water, food, goods, electricity, and fuel to the Strip. Humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza only resumed through the Rafah Crossing after October 20, although the volume of aid is considered insufficient.
On October 27, Israel announced the “expansion” of its ground operation in Gaza. The exact start date of this operation is unknown, but prior to it, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians evacuated their homes and sought shelter in safe areas and in the southern part of the enclave. As of November 5, fighting continues in the center of Gaza, as the Israeli Defense Forces have surrounded the city and cut off its supply.
Earlier in Russia, a possible timeline for the end of the war between Israel and Hamas was discussed.
