A statement from the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) said Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed the US administration’s support for establishing permanent security based on the ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza, two days after the US Secretary of State’s visit to the region. .
The statement said Austin, in an appeal with his Israeli counterpart, Benny Gantz, reiterated the United States’ strong support for Israel’s security, noting that the two sides agreed to continue close coordination on common defense priorities.
Austin had previously declared during the recent Israeli aggression on Gaza, the Pentagon’s strong support for Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself and its people, and had strongly condemned the “rocket attacks by Hamas and other terrorist groups ”, as he described it. He also stressed the importance for all parties to take measures to restore calm. “
On the other hand, the Chief of Staff of the IDF, Aviv Kochavi, will visit the United States next month, where he will meet with the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the United States Armed Forces, the Minister of Defense, the National Security Advisor and other US officials.
Kochavi’s talks will focus on what Israel describes as the common challenges of the Iranian threat, Tehran and Hezbollah’s nuclear project, the impact of the war on Gaza, and the threat of precision missiles. Kochavi will also discuss building a joint force during his visit.
Israeli Radio reported that Kohavi will present what she described as intelligence discoveries about the Iranian nuclear project and the results of the recent Israeli military campaign in Gaza.
The visit was scheduled last month as part of a series of visits by Israeli security officials in an attempt to deter Washington from returning to the nuclear deal with Iran, but Israel’s escalation in Gaza forced him to postpone it.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken visited the region last Wednesday and Thursday, which included Israel, the West Bank, Egypt and Jordan, during which he sought to establish a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian factions, and to mobilize the international community to advance relief efforts. efforts in Gaza.
Blinken insisted during the visit to avoid various actions that could intentionally or unintentionally lead to another wave of violence, indicating that during his visit to the region – directly from Israelis, and indirectly from Hamas – both sides wanted preserve the ceasefire.
The military clash – which took place May 10-21 this month – resulted in the deaths of around 260 Palestinians – including 66 children and fighters – as a result of Israeli artillery and airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, according to local authorities, while 12 people – including a child, a girl and a soldier – were killed on the Israeli side, with rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, according to the Israeli police. p>