Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant today about Israeli operations against Hamas in Gaza. Secretary Austin discussed the Department of Defense’s humanitarian airdrops to Palestinian civilians in Gaza. He stressed the critical need to surge aid through all possible entry points and ensure the safe distribution of aid once delivered to Gaza. Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant discussed the urgent need to secure the immediate release of hostages held captive by Hamas.