Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant yesterday to receive updates on Israel's phased operations in Gaza. The Secretary commended the Israel Defense Forces' commitment to hostage recovery and reemphasized the importance of conducting operations in accordance with the Law of War. He also stressed the imperative to protect innocent civilians and allow unfettered humanitarian aid into Gaza.