Washington, March 20 -- US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin will host his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, at the Pentagon next week to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip, CNN has reported, citing a US defence official.
"The two leaders will discuss a range of topics, including efforts to secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas, the need for more humanitarian aid to reach Palestinian civilians, and plans to ensure the safety of the more than 1 million people sheltering in Rafah while ensuring Hamas can no longer pose a threat to Israel," the report quoted the official as saying on Tuesday.
The report added that the meeting comes after Austin sent an invitation for an official visit, and it is separate from a meeting annou...