Pentagon chief tells Gallant that Israel, US have ‘shared interest in enduring defeat of Hamas’

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant in a call on Wednesday of the need for an “effective mechanism” to coordinate humanitarian and military operations in Gaza, the Pentagon says.

The American readout says Austin stressed the Biden administration’s “ironclad support for Israel” and “reiterated strong US objections to the International Criminal Court prosecutor’s outrageous application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders.”

Austin also called for Israel to work to increase the amount of aid entering Gaza and together with Gallant “acknowledged a shared interest in the enduring defeat of Hamas and the urgent release of all hostages.”

“They discussed how best to defeat Hamas’ Rafah remnants while minimizing civilian harm,” the statement adds.