Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III called Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant today to receive an update on hostage recovery and the Israel Defense Forces' operational pause in Gaza. The Secretary provided updates on U.S. security assistance support to Israel; reiterated that humanitarian aid into Gaza must increase; and called for state and non-state actors to avoid expanding the current conflict. Secretary Austin also provided updates on U.S. efforts to protect its forces and interests across the Middle East.