Pentagon chief says civilian death toll in Gaza ‘far too high’ | Israel War on Gaza News

Lloyd Austin tells Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant that humanitarian support reaching Palestinian enclave ‘far too low’.

US Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin has informed his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant that the civilian loss of life toll is “far too excessive” within the Gaza Strip, a day after the United Nations Safety Council handed a decision demanding a ceasefire within the war-torn Palestinian enclave.

Talking at the beginning of a gathering with Gallant on Tuesday in Washington, DC, Austin said the quantity of humanitarian support reaching Gaza additionally stays “far too low”.

“Gaza is struggling a humanitarian disaster, and the scenario is getting even worse,” the Pentagon chief stated.

“And we’d like quick will increase in help to avert famine, and our work to open a short lived humanitarian hall by sea will assist, however the hot button is nonetheless increasing support deliveries by land.”

Israel has blocked the entry of essential humanitarian help to Gaza, prompting warnings that the Palestinian territory is dealing with “famine-like situations”.

Gallant’s journey to the US capital additionally got here because the UN Safety Council voted on Monday in favour of a decision calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the place greater than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its navy offensive in early October.

The US abstained from that ceasefire vote as a substitute of utilizing its veto, a transfer that specialists stated highlighted President Joe Biden’s frustrations with the Israeli management, together with most notably Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu slammed the Biden administration for failing to dam the measure and rejected a deliberate go to to the US by an Israeli authorities delegation.

US and Israeli media shops have reported that Gallant was travelling to Washington to request extra expedited weapon shipments.

The Israeli defence minister stated on Tuesday that he deliberate to debate US-Israel cooperation to “guarantee Israel’s navy edge and capabilities” in his assembly with Austin.

Regardless of elevated criticism of Israel’s insurance policies in Gaza, US officers have harassed that they’ll proceed to offer Israel with the weapons it wants for the struggle.

On Monday, the US Division of State stated it had acquired “credible” assurances from Israel that US arms aren’t being utilized in violation of worldwide humanitarian regulation.

That evaluation outraged Palestinian rights advocates who’ve accused Israel of rampant abuses and genocide within the battle.