US says Blinken and Gallant discussed ‘active efforts’ to free hostages, deliver more aid to Gaza

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a relatively rare call with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant yesterday to discuss “active efforts” to secure the release of the hostages in Gaza and facilitate the entry of more humanitarian aid into the Strip, the State Department says.

Blinken hasn’t made a call to Gallant since October 16, according to the State Department, as Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin is the administration’s normal conduit to the Israeli defense minister.

Blinken has spoken more often with war cabinet minister Benny Gantz, but increasing humanitarian aid into Gaza is high on the US agenda and Gallant’s ministry has more authority over this effort.

The rest of the US readout includes the usual talking points regarding the US effort to prevent the conflict from spreading; steps to de-escalate tensions in the West Bank and the Lebanon border; the importance of Israel protecting civilians and the US commitment to establishing a Palestinian state.

Even if a particular talking point is not mentioned in a call, governments often include them in press readouts in an attempt to get messages across publicly.