US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin raised on Thursday with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, the need for a credible plan to ensure the safety of and support for the more than one million people sheltering in Rafah in the Gaza Strip before any military operations proceed there.
In a phone call, the two sides discussed the Israel military operations in Khan Younis, a Pentagon readout said.
Austin also raised the need to improve the deconfliction process with humanitarian groups.
He stressed the importance of more aid reaching Palestinian civilians, as looting and violence hinder access to humanitarian convoys in Gaza.