Pentagon chief deplores ‘far too high number of civilian victims’ in Gaza. Lloyd Austin to discuss alternatives to large-scale Israeli operation in the south.
Talks come a day after Israel canceled a high-ranking side visit to the US capital, which was supposed to discuss plans for an offensive in Rafah. U.S. has forcefully expressed its opposition in recent days to any ground assault on the town of Rafah, where a large part of Gaza's population has taken refuge.